During the interrogation about the violations alleged by the prosecution in the rescue flight case (December 24), defendant Tran Tung - former Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Thai Nguyen province, surprised many people when he confessed that "the defendant felt he had more income".
In this case, the former Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Thai Nguyen province was accused of receiving a bribe of 4.4 billion VND when advising and proposing that the Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee approve the policy of medical isolation for 3 flights.
Defendant Tran Tung also took advantage of his position and power, violated his official duties, and illegally profited more than 3.2 billion VND when advising and proposing that the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province approve the policy of medical isolation for many other flights.
Mr. Tran Tung's statement not only exposed the degradation of public ethics but also caused outrage when it was uttered in the tragic context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the whole country was trying to save people, Mr. Tung and many other defendants took advantage of and increased the pain of their compatriots to make illegal profits, turning rescue flights into opportunities for personal gain.
As a former important position holder in the management agency, Mr. Tran Tung not only violated the law but was also inhumane, betraying the sense of responsibility and trust of the people.
The statement "the defendant saw more income" in court is not only a confession of the motive for committing the crime as accused but also a slap in the face to the ethical values of public service.
The illegal "extra income" earning behavior of Mr. Tran Tung and other defendants in the case not only led to severe prison sentences, but also left an indelible stain on their personal histories and affected the organizations they once represented.
More importantly, they will face the court of their own conscience - a judgment that has no deadline, and allows no room for lies or evasion.
Anyone involved in profiteering from the rescue flight needs to look back at themselves and ask whether the few billions earned are enough to compensate for the contempt of society and self-blame?
The COVID-19 pandemic is an “opportunity” for Mr. Tran Tung and many other defendants to “see more income”. Hopefully, the coming years of imprisonment will also be an opportunity for Mr. Tran Tung and other defendants to “see more” and realize the true value of ethics, responsibility and integrity.
The rescue flight case is once again a profound warning about the risk of corruption among some officials in the public apparatus when ethics are overwhelmed by greed.
This case does not stop at handling individual violators but also raises urgent requirements for improving transparency and integrity in state management.
That is, the State system needs effective control and monitoring mechanisms so that no one can turn life-saving missions into opportunities for "extra income" anymore!
