Cao Minh Quang, former Deputy Minister of Health, at the court. (Photo: VNA) Quang was found guilty of "lack of responsibility,causing serious consequences" in relation to a medicine deal thatcaused more than 3.8 million USD in damage to the State budget.
The charges centred around the purchase of medicines to preventand control the A(H5N1) influenza epidemic between the Ministry of Healthand Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.
The court also gave Duong Huy Lieu, former Director of theministry’s Planning and Finance Department, a 24-month suspended sentence.
Nguyen Nam Lien, former Deputy Director of the ministry’s Planningand Finance Department and deputy head of the ministry’s management board ofthe plan for prevention and control of A(H5N1) influenza epidemic,received a 24-month sentence.
Pham Thi Minh Nga, former chief accountant of the managementboard, received a 15-month suspended sentence.
Nguyen Viet Hung, former Deputy Director of the ministry’s DrugAdministration of Vietnam, received a 30-month sentence.
All the four of defendants were charged for "lack ofresponsibility, causing serious consequences."
Luong Van Hoa, former General Director of the Cuu LongPharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, was jailed for nine years for"abusing position and powers while performing official duties"according to the provisions of Article 356, Clause 3 of the 2015 Penal Code.
Nguyen Van Thanh Hai, former chief accountant of the company, wasjailed for six years and Ngo Huu Hieu Nghia, director of the company’s branchin HCM City and head of the company’s Export and Import Office, sentenced tofive years in prison for "abusing position and powers while performingofficial duties.”
The trial panel said that the defendants, who are former officialsat the health ministry, were assigned responsibilities in the management anduse of public property but lacked of responsibilities, resulting in a loss ofover 3.8 million USD to the State.
Meanwhile, the defendants' behaviour at the Cuu LongPharmaceutical Joint Stock Company is believed to be dangerous to society,infringing on the proper operation of State agencies and economic organisationsin performing their official duties assigned by the State, the trial panelsaid.
Regarding civil liability, the court determined that the amount ofmore than 3.8 million USD was accounted in the business activities of thecompany. Therefore, the court forced the company to compensate the amount tothe health ministry.
According to the indictment, in 2005, while the influenza A/H5N1epidemic showed complex developments, the health ministry ordered the companyto manufacture Oseltamivir drug from imported raw materials.
The purchase price of the drug was determined on the basis of theprice of raw materials negotiated with a foreign supplier.
If the company negotiated to reduce the price of raw materials,the authorities would consider adjusting the price of the drug.
In 2006, the company imported 520kg of raw materials with a priceof 9.1 million USD from a foreign partner. The company already paid 5.25million USD while the remaining 3.84 million USD was set to pay six monthslater from the date of receiving the raw materials.
However, the foreign partner then reduced the purchase price ofthe raw materials by 3.84 million USD for the company.
Hoa directed his subordinates to legalise business reports anddocuments to conceal the price reduction to illegally keep the amount of 3.84million USD.
At that time, Quang was assigned to lead the steering committee todeal with issues related to Tamiflu, raw materials and Oseltamivir.
Quang knew that the company did not pay the amount of 3.84 millionUSD to the foreign partner but he did not direct relevant units to furtherclarify.
Later, the Ministry of Finance continued sending an officialdispatch requesting the health ministry to clarify but Quang still failed tofulfil his assigned duties, allowing the company to embezzle and illegally usethe money./.
VNA
