Former Minister Nguyen Thanh Long (left) and Viet A General Director Phan Quoc Viet at the trial - Photo: GIANG LONG
The Hanoi People's Court has just announced the appeal of 12 defendants (out of a total of 38 defendants) in the Viet A case.
General Director of Viet A Company Phan Quoc Viet and former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long have filed an appeal to reduce their sentences.
Defendant Vu Dinh Hiep, deputy general director of Viet A Company, filed an appeal requesting review and re-evaluation 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 many appeals for reduced sentences from defendants in the case such as Mr. Trinh Thanh Hung - former deputy director of the Department of Science and Technology, Pham Duy Tuyen - former director of CDC Hai Duong, Nguyen Nam Lien - former head of the Department of Planning and Finance of the Ministry of Health, Tran Thi Hong - employee of Viet A Company, Le Thi Hong Xuyen - former employee of CDC Binh Duong...
In addition, Viet A Company also filed an appeal requesting not to confiscate to the state budget the amount of money determined to be illegally profited from selling test kits to organizations and individuals not considered for prosecution in the case.
Viet A requires organizations that purchase test kits from this company without going through the bidding process to pay Viet A according to the signed contract.
Viet A also appealed to the appellate court to cancel the measures to freeze and restrict transactions on the bank accounts of this enterprise and companies in the Viet A system that are not related to the case...
Some individuals with related rights and obligations also appealed, requesting the appellate court to consider canceling the seizure and freezing of many savings books and cards...
Previously, on the afternoon of January 12, the Hanoi People's Court announced the sentences for 38 defendants in the Viet A case, with 37/38 defendants being sentenced below the prosecution framework.
The court sentenced Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long to 18 years in prison for bribery.
The court sentenced Mr. 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 given to Viet for the two crimes is 29 years in prison.
Mr. Vu Dinh Hiep was sentenced to 7 years in prison for violating bidding regulations and 8 years in prison for providing bribes, totaling 15 years in prison. 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 damage to people's lives.
In that context, a number of senior leaders in ministries and localities colluded with businesses to "take advantage of the epidemic situation to benefit group interests".
The defendants helped Viet A Company coordinate to participate in the national research project on COVID-19 test kits, with the Ministry of Science and Technology representing the owner.
The defendants then committed a series of violations, turning research products belonging to State-owned topics into Viet A's private property.
This company illegally produced and sold test kits nationwide at inflated prices, illegally profiting an exceptionally large amount of money.
To get the intervention and help of a group of former leaders in ministries and localities, the general director of Viet A "agreed to share the profits", gave bribes and thank-you money many times.
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