Former Ministers Nguyen Thanh Long and Phan Quoc Viet appeal in the Viet A case

Cựu bộ trưởng Nguyễn Thanh Long (trái) và tổng giám đốc Việt Á Phan Quốc Việt tại phiên tòa - Ảnh: GIANG LONG — Former Minister Nguyen Thanh Long (left) and General Director of Viet A Group Phan Quoc Viet at the trial - Photo: GIANG LONG

The Hanoi People's Court has just announced the appeals of 12 defendants (out of a total of 38 defendants) in the Viet A case.

Phan Quoc Viet, General Director of Viet A Company, and Nguyen Thanh Long, former Minister of Health, have filed appeals seeking a reduction in their sentences.

Defendant Vu Dinh Hiep, deputy general director of Viet A Company, has filed an appeal requesting a review and reassessment of the true nature of the case and the charges against him.

Viet A case: Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and Phan Quoc Viet appeal.

In addition, the court also received numerous appeals for reduced sentences from defendants in the case, such as Trinh Thanh Hung - former deputy head of the Department of Science and Technology, Pham Duy Tuyen - former director of the Hai Duong CDC, Nguyen Nam Lien - former head of the Planning and Finance Department of the Ministry of Health, Tran Thi Hong - employee of Viet A Company, Le Thi Hong Xuyen - former employee of the Binh Duong CDC...

In addition, Viet A Company also filed an appeal requesting that the money identified as illicit gains from selling test kits to organizations and individuals not subject to prosecution in the case not be confiscated and forfeited to the state treasury.

Viet A requires organizations that purchase testing kits from this company without going through the bidding process to pay Viet A according to the signed contract.

Viet A also appealed, requesting the appellate court to overturn the freezing and transaction restrictions imposed on the bank accounts of this company and other companies within the Viet A system that are not related to the case…

Several individuals with related rights and obligations also appealed, requesting the appellate court to consider revoking the seizure and freezing of numerous savings passbooks and cards...

Earlier, on the afternoon of January 12, the Hanoi City People's Court announced the sentences for 38 defendants in the Viet A case, with 37 out of 38 defendants receiving sentences below the maximum penalty for prosecution.

The court sentenced Nguyen Thanh Long to 18 years in prison for bribery.

The court sentenced Phan Quoc Viet to 14 years in prison for "violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences" and 15 years in prison for bribery. The total sentence for Viet for the two offenses is 29 years in prison.

Mr. Vu Dinh Hiep was sentenced by the court to 7 years in prison for violating bidding regulations and 8 years in prison for bribery, for a combined sentence of 15 years. Mr. Trinh Thanh Hung received 14 years in prison for accepting bribes...

According to the verdict, the case occurred in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, causing severe loss of life.

In this context, a number of high-ranking leaders in ministries, departments, and localities colluded with businesses to "exploit the pandemic situation for group benefits."

The defendants helped Viet A Company to participate in a national-level research project on COVID-19 testing kits, with the Ministry of Science and Technology acting as the owner.

Subsequently, the defendants committed a series of wrongdoings, transforming research products belonging to state-owned projects into the private property of Viet A.

This company illegally manufactured and commercially sold testing kits nationwide at inflated prices, reaping exceptionally large illicit profits.

In order to get intervention and assistance from former leaders at various ministries and local authorities, the general director of Viet A Group made "agreements to share the profits," giving bribes and thank-you money on multiple occasions.

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