Legal action underway against ex-officials in Vietnam

Those implicated are former Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Luong, former Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh and former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Ta, all of whom were previously expelled from the ranks of the Communist Party of Vietnam (PCV) for violating political policy. The organization and laws of the state.

Than Long was charged with abuse of office and power in the performance of official duties, while Ngoc Anh and Kung Ta would have to stand trial for violating regulations for the management and use of state property causing losses and waste.

The former chief of health, to the Police Detective Agency, referred to the abuse of his power to breach legal regulations in issuing distribution registration numbers, negotiating and verifying prices for Covid-19 test kits, which in particular caused massive property damage. The state.

Meanwhile, Ngoc Anh and Kong Tak violated the provisions of the law in the allocation, management and use of the National Science and Technology Project for the Research and Manufacture of Covid-19 Test Kits, causing loss and waste of state resources.

Last December, VNA news agency reported, the police had arrested and opened legal proceedings against the former CEO of Viet A, Phan Quoc Viet, for raising the price of RT-PCR Covid-19 test kits and bribing health officials to sell them. they.

As the initial investigation showed, Quoc Viet and other members of this entity admitted colluding with hospital leaders and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to provide these institutions with tests at very high prices.

It also detected irregularities in the administration, research and transfer of the scientific project on the testing tools of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

In addition to the issuance of temporary application registration licenses and official circulation for it, and in the price negotiations between Viet A and the Ministry of Health.

In total, 30 people have been prosecuted so far for the offenses of violating auction regulations that caused severe consequences, offering and accepting bribes, and abuse of positions and powers in the performance of official duties.

ode / mp