Two former ministers to stand trial in Viet A COVID-19 test kit scandal
VOV.VN - A total of 38 defendants, including two former ministers, will go on trial in early January 2024 in a notorious graft scandal related to the COVID-19 test kit overcharging case at Viet A Technologies JSC, according to the Hanoi People’s Court.
Among the defendants, 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.
Phan Quoc Viet, director of Viet A Technologies JSC, was prosecuted for (1) violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences, and (2) giving bribes.
Other defendants who were ranking officials will also stand trial, including former Party Secretary of Hai Duong Province Pham Xuan Thang, and former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac.
The trial is expected to last for 20 days, starting on January 3. 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.
