Society

Two former ministers prosecuted in COVID-19 test kit scandal

The Supreme People's Procuracy has prosecuted 38 individuals involving in the COVID-19 test kit overcharging at the Viet A Company.
Two former ministers prosecuted in COVID-19 test kit scandal ảnh 1Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long (R) and ormer Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Supreme People'sProcuracy has prosecuted 38 individuals involving in the COVID-19 test kitovercharging at the Viet A Company.

They were prosecuted for “violating biddingregulations, causing serious consequences,” “asset embezzlement,” “receivingbribes” and “abusing position and power while performing duties.”

Among them, six shared the charge of “receiving bribes”,namely former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and his former secretaryNguyen Huynh, former Director of the Hai Duong Centre for Disease Control (CDC)Pham Duy Tuyen, former deputy head of the Science and Technology Departmentunder the Ministry of Science and Technology Trinh Thanh Hung, former head ofthe Department of Health Equipment and Works under the Ministry of Health NguyenMinh Tuan, and former head of the Department of Financial Planning under theMinistry of Health Nguyen Nam Lien.

Phan Quoc Viet, General Director of the Viet A Company, aswell as his subordinate Vu Dinh Hiep, were charged with “violating biddingregulations, causing serious consequences” and “giving bribes.”

Phan Ton Noel Thao and Ho Thi Thanh Thao, financeassistant and treasurer of Viet A, faced the charge of “giving bribes.”

Chu Ngoc Anh, former Minister of Science and Technology,was charged with “violating regulations on the management and use of Stateassets, causing losses and wastefulness.”

The others include many officials of ministries, and People’sCommittees or Party Committees, departments and CDC of 24 cities and provinces.

In December 2021, police arrested and initiated legalproceedings against Viet for raising the price of RT-PCR COVID-19 test kits andgiving bribery to health officials to sell their test kits.

Viet and key leaders of the company had admitted tocolluding with leaders of hospitals and Centres for Disease Control (CDCs) tosupply COVID-19 test kits to hospitals and CDCs at prices set by the company,which were much higher than the production price.

The Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation PoliceAgency froze transactions and deposits and confiscated a total of around 1.7trillion VND (73.9 million USD) in connection with this case./.
VNA
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