Vietnam Reports Rise in Corruption Investigations

Posted July 7th, 2011 at 12:15 am (UTC-5)
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Authorities in Vietnam are reporting a 6.5 percent increase in the number of corruption cases handled by police in the first six months of 2011.

Police officials announced the increase Wednesday in a summary of police activity during the six-month period. Major General Do Kim Tuyen said about 5,300 corruption cases were investigated from January through June.

Authorities say they are seeking to clamp down on corrupt practices in Vietnam, where corruption is considered a serious problem. The global research organization Transparency International ranks the country as 61st most corrupt in an annual survey of 176 countries.

In its announcement Wednesday, the Anti-Crime Police General Department also said 22,000 criminals belonging to 1,800 gangs were arrested in the six-month period. It said five police officers were killed in the line of duty.