Two former ministers stand trial in Viet A COVID-19 test kit scandal
VOV.VN - As many as 38 defendants, including two former ministers of health and science-technology, were brought to court in Hanoi on January 3 in a trial related to the COVID-19 test kit overcharging scandal at Viet A Technologies JSC.
Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long was prosecuted for taking bribes, while former Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh was accused of violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing a great loss to the state budget.
Other defendants who were also brought to the court, included former Party Secretary of Hai Duong Province Pham Xuan Thang, and former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac.
The former Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee was accused of abusing his position and power while performing official duties.
Phan Quoc Viet, director of Viet A Technologies JSC, was prosecuted for (1) violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences, and (2) giving bribes.
During another trial in late December 2023, Viet was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Hanoi Military Court over two charges of (1) abusing position and power while performing official duties, and (2) violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences in the test kit scandal closely associated with four former officers of the Military Medical Academy.
Security measures were tightened at the court. All the participants in the proceedings were required to leave their electronic devices outside and were strictly inspected before entering the courtroom.
The trial is expected to last for 20 days. Nearly 70 lawyers have registered to defend their defendants and other related people at the court.
According to the indictment, when COVID-19 broke out in early 2020, the Government assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant agencies to proactively research and manufacture biological products for pandemic prevention.
Hearing about the news, Viet colluded with several officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology to get involved in the project with the Military Medical Academy.
Immediately after being transferred the test kit research process, Viet assigned his subordinates to continue carrying out the project, and then applied for a license for test kit circulation and commercial use.
To participate in research, product registration, and price negotiations, Viet was accused of giving bribes at a total of VND106 billion to six officials, including former health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.
In 2020 and 2021, Viet A produced 8.7 million test kits, of which 8.3 million products were sold. The firm was allocated VND2,250 billion by the state and Viet was accused of illegally getting VND1,235 billion.
