crime

Vietnam arrests 4 railway officials in Japan aid graft scandal

17 Comments

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Business as usual then.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Reminds me of that 1960 Kurosawa film The Bad Sleep Well. Seems not much has changed.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'm shocked, shocked do you hear, to learn that a Japanese business is involved with bribery and corruption.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

On the other hand the Japanese corporation would not have won the bid if they DID NOT pay bribes speculating what is written in the article.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It is normal practice at the mentioned countries ..

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Bribery and big money corruption has long been perceived as a major obstacle for socio-economic development distorting national and economic relations and the scale of it is significant at both the corporate and governmental level creating a major distortion of trade as well as undermining the growth of a merging market in a developing country like Vietnam. Unfortunately the origin of this bribery problem began many years ago in South Vietnam, in part because there was so much money and due to the culture of corruption left by a succession of South Vietnamese governments. In the end this is a complex problem and some Vietnamese people have tried to confront this issue however their freedom of expression and association has been suppressed and human rights violated.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

How about cracking down on the folks paying the bribes too. Let Vietnam and any other country that forces folks to pay bribes to get jobs done sink into their own quagmire.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

How about cracking down on the folks paying the bribes too. Let Vietnam and any other country that forces folks to pay bribes to get jobs done sink into their own quagmire.

Do you think this practice doesn't occur in Japan, America, or Europe? Do you think senators and congressmen in America become multi-millionaires after two or three terms in office because they are simply good investors? Do you think the recent political scandals in Japan where top officials like mayor of Tokyo are charged for accepting "loans" are rare or isolated incidents?

The Vietnamese officials were likely arrested only because they didn't share their bribe money with their superiors. The Japanese officials recently exposed were only caught because they were trying to squeeze more money from their bribers, and the companies in question decided it was cheaper to endure the bad publicity than continue paying. Bribery and graft are the main reasons why politicians run for offic, and it is the main reason they stay there.

If the politicians squeeze those who are paying bribes, what does that do for their political careers and incomes?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I guess they forgot to pay someone.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Let Vietnam and any other country that forces folks to pay bribes...."

Yes, those poor innocent Japanese, who were "forced" by wily foreigners to pay bribes. Just as they were "forced" also in Indonesia and Uzbekistan. Wow, what a coincidence. Clearly, the Japanese corruption was systemic and widespread.

In the PCI case, which involved a "series" of bribes, the Vietnamese court delivered a 20 year JAIL sentence. A Japanese court, however, suspended the sentences for the Japanese criminals. It's clear who is serious about corruption and who isn't.

"the Japanese corporation would not have won the bid if they DID NOT pay bribes"

Indeed, a BETTER corporation might have won it instead, such as a European one with more experience and expertise supplying rail systems to developing countries. We can't have that, can we.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So, what the punishment for president JTC?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

JeffLee

So naive another company willing to pay more bribes are going to win not a better company. If case you haven't read the article;

Vietnam is still rated one of the world’s most corrupt nations

Like SK the corrupt bureaucrat undoubtedly demanded for the bribes to be paid.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

"the corrupt bureaucrat undoubtedly demanded for the bribes to be paid."

"Undoubtedly"? So you have proof, eh? What is it?

"So naive another company willing to pay more bribes are going to win not a better company."

What is the name of the "naive company? Do you know, or are you just making this up?

Are you also aware that the Vietnamese parliament rejected a shinkansen project the Japanese were pressuring the Vietnamese to buy? The Vietnamese said the project would be too expensive for their needs.

The Japanese don't care. All they want is to use the ODA as a means of selling overpriced and unsuited Japanese products in a country they arrogantly believe they are destined to dominate.

Just like in Uzbekistan and Indonesia.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@JeffLee,

Indeed, a BETTER corporation might have won it instead, such as a European one with more experience and expertise supplying rail systems to developing countries.

Like Siemens?

http://www.dw.de/siemens-bribery-case-spreads-to-brazilian-politics/a-17268276

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

So, they have missed putting someone on the pay list.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It happens everywhere. Just more nicely concealed in the West.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Selchuk Driss

It happens everywhere. Just more nicely concealed in the West.

In the West, we call lobbying when bribing to Government officials. Usually, no cash transactions, just favor, etc. Or, donate a wing in Harvard/Yale/UCLA etc allowing the other parties' kids to attend schools there or have a seat on the Board of Directors later, etc. Expensive all inclusive Golf trips.........

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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