Today, the trial of former Deputy Minister of Health Cao Minh Quang and accomplices

Among the 9 defendants brought to trial in this case, 5 were former officials and leaders of the Ministry of Health, including: Cao Minh Quang (former Deputy Minister of Health), Duong Huy Lieu (former Director of the Department of Financial Planning, Ministry of Health), Nguyen Nam Lien (former Deputy Director of the Department of Financial Planning, Ministry of Health, Deputy Head of the Management Board for the implementation of the plan to prevent and control influenza A (H5N1) epidemic of the Ministry of Health), Pham Thi Minh Nga (specialist of the Department of Financial Planning, Ministry of Health, former Chief Accountant of the Management Board for the implementation of the plan to prevent and control influenza A (H5N1) epidemic of the Ministry of Health), Nguyen Viet Hung (former Deputy Director of the Department of Drug Administration, Ministry of Health).

These defendants were prosecuted for the crime of"Lack of responsibility causes serious consequences."

The remaining four defendants, including: Luong Van Hoa (former General Director of Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company), Nguyen Thanh Tong (former Deputy General Director of Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company), Nguyen Van Thanh Hai (former Chief Accountant of Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company), Ngo Huu Hieu Nghia (former Director of Ho Chi Minh City Branch, concurrently Executive Director of Import-Export Department of Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company) were brought to trial for the crime of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties".

Former Deputy Minister of Health Cao Minh Quang.

Judge Vu Quang Huy presided over the trial. Three prosecutors from the Supreme People's Procuracy and the Hanoi People's Procuracy were assigned to exercise the right to prosecute and supervise the trial.

There are 15 lawyers registered to protect the legal rights and interests of the defendants, of which defendant Cao Minh Quang has 2 defense lawyers.

The court summoned a number of organizations and individuals participating in the proceedings to the trial, including representatives of the Ministry of Health, representatives of Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company...

The allegation is that, in order to implement the Prime Minister's plan to stockpile Tamiflu and produce Oseltamivir to prevent the A(H5N1) flu epidemic in Vietnam, based on the Ministry of Finance's announcement of the cost of producing Oseltamivir, the Ministry of Health assigned the plan and ordered Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (abbreviated as Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company) to produce Oseltamivir from imported raw materials, in the form of signing and implementing economic contracts.

According to the provisions of law on price management of goods and services ordered by the State for production using budget sources, Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company must comply with the price management mechanism and price levels prescribed by competent State agencies.

During the implementation of the drug production plan, Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company was given a discount on raw material purchases, but with the motive of profit, defendant Luong Van Hoa took advantage of his position and authority to direct others to make accounting entries contrary to accounting principles; established debt relief to conceal the inspection and audit; and at the same time, legalized concealed payment records in order to retain the discount on raw material purchases of more than 3.8 million USD (equivalent to more than 61 billion VND) for use, causing damage to the State budget.

The indictment stated that Mr. Cao Minh Quang was assigned to direct, periodically inspect, evaluate, and summarize the situation of purchasing, preserving, and using Tamiflu, Oseltamivir raw materials, and producing reserve drugs, but he was irresponsible, did not fully perform his assigned tasks, and did not direct an inspection to clarify the amount of more than 3.8 million USD that Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company had not paid to the raw material supplier, so he did not discover that Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company had retained this amount, causing damage to the State budget.

Mr. Cao Minh Quang was accused of failing to fully perform his assigned duties and tasks, causing damage to the State of more than 3.8 million USD, committing the crime of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences".

T. Nhung