Criminals using COVID-19 pandemic to profit: public security ministry

October 27,tiso tile ma cao 2020 - 08:37

Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm said hiking medical equipment’s prices, smuggling goods across borders and making fake COVID-19 prevention and control products were new types of crimes this year while delivering a report at the National Assembly meeting on Monday.

 

Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm delivers a report at the National Assembly meeting on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm said hiking medical equipment’s prices, smuggling goods across borders and making fake COVID-19 prevention and control products were new types of crimes this year while delivering a report at the National Assembly meeting on Monday.

Police have imposed strict punishments on those who used the pandemic to profit illegally, he said.

Since early this year, the Ministry of Public Security has investigated more than 40,000 violations of social disorder or 85.69 per cent of violation cases. More than 96 per cent of extremely serious cases have been brought to light, the minister said.

Among crimes handled, those who committed child sexual abuse received tougher penalties, he said.

There has been an increasing number of murders, rapes, crimes against officers on public duty, while online loan sharking and property appropriation such as fraud, theft and robbery have also expanded, he said.

Reporting on national security, he said the Government had issued an action plan to implement Resolution No 51 of the Politburo on the Strategy for National Security Protection.

"The hostile forces inside the country and abroad continue to increase opposing activities in a number of fields, especially while the Party congresses at all levels are organised and the 13th national Party Congress is prepared.”

Complex crimes have also occurred, such as disclosing State secrets on cyberspace and the illegal migration of foreigners.

Since January, authorities discovered 22,105 cases of economic management violations and 313 crimes related to corruption and abusing positions.

Minister Tô Lâm proposed perfecting laws on crime prevention and control as well as to conduct inspections and crackdowns on criminals, especially in environment, food safety and hygiene and high-tech crimes.

The Ministry of Public Security proposed the National Assembly have supreme supervision of crime prevention and control.

Lê Thị Nga, chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Committee of Legal Affairs, expressed the concern of the committee over the increasing number of serious crimes such as rapes, causing public disorder and opposing police officers on duty. The number of cases related to opposing police officers has risen by 260 per cent compared to the previous year.

She urged stricter punishments for those crimes.

Deputy Phạm Văn Hòa from southern Đồng Tháp Province said the Party and the Government had taken drastic actions against corruption, earning public trust.

However, although big corruption cases have been tackled, petty corruption which plagues businesses and people is getting more sophisticated and has not been properly handled, he said.

Corruption cases are not only reported at State agencies but also among sensitive sectors, he said.

The deputy proposed raising awareness of corruption prevention and control, at the same time, imposing strict punishments on corruption. — VNS

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