At the conclusion of the investigation of violations in the procurement of Covid-19 test kits by Viet A Company, the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security proposed to prosecute 6 defendants for bribery, including including Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long (former Minister of Health), Mr. Pham Xuan Thang (former Secretary of Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee)…
The defendants are accused of receiving from tens of thousands to several million USD from Phan Quoc Viet (Chairman and General Director of Viet A Company).
In the case, there are also defendants who received money from Vietnam such as Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh (former Minister of Science and Technology). Technology), Mr. Pham Cong Tac (former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology), Mr. Nguyen Van Trinh (former assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister) but were not proposed to be prosecuted for accepting bribes.
According to the investigation conclusion Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh received 200,000 USD from Viet. At that time, Viet put the money in a blue gift bag with a few boxes of masks and disinfectant spray.
When leaving, Viet opened his backpack and took out the blue bag gave Mr. Ngoc Anh and said he had a little thank you gift. The former Minister then put the blue bag in the bedroom inside the office around the end of September 2020 when cleaning the office at the headquarters of the Ministry of Science and Technology to move in Office at the Hanoi People’s Committee headquarters, Mr. Ngoc Anh recently checked the gift bag given by Viet mentioned above and found 200,000 USD.
The Ministry of Public Security concluded that Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh did not discuss. agreed with Phan Quoc Viet on the payment and receipt of money without causing difficulties so that Phan Quoc Viet had to give money.
For Mr. Pham Cong Tac conclusion Investigation revealed that the former Deputy Minister also received a gift bag containing 50,000 USD from Vietnam. However, Mr. Tac claimed to only receive 100 million VND.
Similar to Mr. Ngoc Anh, the investigation agency also concluded that Mr. Tac did not discuss and agree with President Viet A on giving and receiving money without causing difficulties in order to force Viet to give money.
Similar to the 2 defendants above Mr. Nguyen Van Trinh was accused of receiving $200,000 from Phan Quoc Viet, but the former assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister did not discuss an agreement with Viet about receiving the money nor did he cause difficulties in order to force President Viet A to giving money.
In this case, the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security proposed to prosecute Mr. Ngoc Anh and Mr. Tac together for violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing waste and loss; Mr. Trinh was proposed to be prosecuted for abusing his position and power while performing official duties.
According to the investigation conclusion Phan Quoc Viet paid “thank you” money. ” for individuals:
Nguyen Van Trinh (Government Office official) 200,000 USD;
Chu Ngoc Anh (former Minister of Science and Technology ) 200,000 USD;
Pham Cong Trac (former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology) 50,000 USD.
In addition, the Ministry of Public Security determined that Phan Quoc Viet also gave Bribes for men:
Nguyen Thanh Long (former Minister of Health) 2 25 million USD;
Nguyen Huynh (Mr. Long’s secretary) 4 billion Dong;
Nguyen Minh Tuan (former Director of the Department of Medical Equipment and Construction, Ministry of Health) 300,000 USD;
Trinh Thanh Hung (former Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology ) 350,000 USD;
Nguyen Nam Lien (Director of the Department of Planning and Finance of the Ministry of Health) 100,000 USD
The total amount of money bribed by Vietnam is 3 million USD (equivalent to more than 68 billion VND) and 4 billion VND.
Result An investigation by the Ministry of Public Security determined that when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, the Government and the Ministry of Science and Technology assigned scientific units to proactively research and manufacture biological products to serve epidemic prevention. With the purpose of Viet A appropriating the test kit and turning it into the company’s product for production and consumption, Viet A colluded with many individuals leading local ministries so that Viet A could be granted a temporary circulation registration number. officially registered for circulation of Covid-19 test.
When Viet A commercially produced and sold 200,000 test kits to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam inflated the unit price structure but was still approved by the Ministry of Health. The negotiation price was determined to be 470,000 VND/test without basis.
The Ministry of Health then checked the consultation price and determined that Viet A changed production materials but did not come to a conclusion. The proposed handling led to Viet A Company continuing to use the above price to create a price level to sell to local units.
In 2 years Viet A has produced more than 8-7 million test kits sold/gave/advanced more than 8,3 million test kits and received payment for nearly 6 million test kits (equivalent to more than 2,257 billion VND). Comparing with the actual cost of producing a test kit (143,461 VND), the Ministry of Public Security determined that the amount of money Viet A illegally benefited was more than 1,235 billion VND.
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