VietNamNet Bridge – Government agencies have agreed to reward individuals who have “made outstanding achievements in denouncing corruption” with up to VND5 billion (nearly $250,000) in cash, said Pham Trong Dat, Head of the Anti-corruption Department of the Government Inspectorate.

Hoang Thi Nguyet (right) received a merit certificate and VND320,000 ($15) for exposing violations at the Hoai Duc Hospital in Hanoi.

Dat told Dan Tri online that a joint circular on rewards for individuals with outstanding achievements in the denunciation of corruption will be signed by the Government Inspectorate and the Ministry of the Home Affairs this week.

"Funding for the reward will come from various sources, such as the money reclaimed from corruption cases, and local and state budgets for the prevention of corruption and others," Dat said.

According to this circular, compiled by the Government Inspectorate, there are three forms of reward for corruption whistle-blowers: the Medal of Courage; the Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister; the Certificates of Merit of the ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, the National Assembly Office, the Office of the President, the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Audit Agency, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Specifically, those who detect and prevent corrupt acts worth from VND300 million ($15,000) and up, those who sacrifice their life or are injured, with the injury rate of 61% upward due to denunciation of acts of corruption, will be awarded the Medal of Courage.

Those who denounce and prevent acts of corruption that help the state recover from VND200 million to VND500 million, those who suffer injury or damage to health with the injury rate from 31% to less than 61% ,will be awarded the Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister.

The certificates of merit from ministries, provinces and central organizations will be presented to individuals who detect and prevent corruption acts, help the state recover from VND20 million to VND200 million, and suffer injury or damage health with the injury rate from 11% to 31%.

These people will be also rewarded in cash, up to VND5 billion ($250,000).

This is the highest-ever reward for anti-corruption that has been set in Vietnam.

Tran Cham