Head of CDC Yen Bai testing department arrested

On June 17, Ms. Hanh, 47 years old, was prosecuted and temporarily detained by the Investigation Police Agency of Yen Bai Province Police to investigate the crime.Abusing position and power while performing official dutiesaccording to Clause 2, Article 356, Penal Code. The specific violations of Ms. Hanh and CDC Yen Bai have not been announced.

According to authorities, Ms. Hanh was arrested for her involvement in purchasing Covid-19 test kits from Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company.

Covid-19 test kit of Viet A Company. Photo:BN

In 2020 and 2021, Yen Bai province assigned the health sector to purchase chemicals and biological products for Covid-19 testing with a total amount of more than 4.8 billion VND.

After 6 months of investigating a series of violations related to Viet A Company, the Ministry of Public Security and local police have prosecuted more than 70 people. Among them are former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, former Chairman of Hanoi Chu Ngoc Anh, along with a series of CDC directors and officials of provincial Departments of Health. The Ministry of National Defense's investigation agency also initiated another case, arresting two officers.

Initial investigation results determined that, in order to make illegal profits and pay money outside the contract, Viet A inflated the price of equipment and input materials, setting the selling price at 470,000 VND/kit. In addition to "colluding" with officials and leaders of CDCs to collude in bidding, Viet A leaders also paid nearly 800 billion VND in extra contract fees to many individuals and units.