Seized 1,700 billion VND in Viet A case

The information was provided by Lieutenant General To An Xo (Chief of Office, spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security) at the regular Government press conference on the afternoon of December 1.

Mr. Xo said that the Viet A case is very complicated, many of the defendants are officials, party members, even high-ranking officials. Of the 29 suspects subject to preventive measures, 2/3 are party members.

Due to the nature of the case, on October 20, the Politburo concluded on the policy of handling Party organizations and Party members who violated the law. Accordingly, the competent authorities will strictly handlePeopleIntervening, influencing, and facilitating businesses in bidding and purchasing drugs, equipment, and medical supplies for epidemic prevention and control, causing very serious consequences; colluding and legalizing purchasing and bidding documents for personal gain and motives, causing great damage to the State budget; receiving money and other material benefits...

Cases considered for leniency are those who violate Party regulations and State laws in bidding, contract signing, and contract legalization, causing serious consequences, but these violations occur in urgent cases, and instructions from superiors are not timely or complete.

These people also did not have any selfish or personal motives, proactively reported promptly...; there was no collusion in receiving commissions; violations due to obeying orders and instructions from superiors; people on the front lines of epidemic prevention and control have many remarkable achievements...

The cases exempted from discipline but requiring serious review are those who violated in the context of urgent epidemic prevention and control, without personal motives, without personal gain, and caused less serious consequences. They proactively, promptly, fully and honestly reported, voluntarily, seriously reviewed, and promptly and fundamentally remedied the consequences of their violations. These party members do not hold positions but perform duties and tasks assigned by their superiors.

"The above policy aims to ensure the strictness of the law, but at the same time demonstrates the humanity, leniency, and good nature of the regime," said Mr. Xo, adding that the Ministry of Public Security requested violators to continue to honestly report to the responsible agencies and return the money they received, which will be considered when the case continues to be investigated.

Lieutenant General To An Xo - Chief of Office, spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, December 1. Photo:VGP

Over the past 11 months, since the violations at Viet A Company were exposed, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency and local police have prosecuted nearly 100 people. Among them are three former Central Committee members: former Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, former Hanoi Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh, and former Hai Duong Provincial Party Secretary Pham Xuan Thang.

A series of department-level leaders and medical staff from 24 provinces and cities were also prosecuted and detained. When the investigation was expanded, in addition to a case being handled by the Ministry of Public Security, 24 cases were also prosecuted by the provinces and cities under their jurisdiction. The Ministry of National Defense's investigation agency prosecuted another case and arrested two officers.

The case is considered a typical example of "systemic corruption" due to its scale, occurring from central agencies and ministries to localities.

Initial investigation results determined that, in order to make illegal profits and pay money outside the contract, Viet A inflated the prices of equipment and input materials. Of the revenue of about 4,000 billion VND, Viet A paid "commissions" to units and individuals of nearly 800 billion VND./.