The Viet A case is a large-scale case of organized corruption, from the central to local levels. This is a typical case of unchecked state power, and all supervision is disabled.
On December 27, Viet A General Director Phan Quoc Viet and former Deputy Director of the Military Medical and Pharmaceutical Research Institute – Lieutenant Colonel Ho Anh Son – will appear in court. This is the starting trial for the Viet A case.
Next, on January 3, 2024, two former Ministers of Health and Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long and Chu Ngoc Anh, will appear in court along with 36 other defendants.
Observers are still wondering about the difference in bribery amount between initial information and investigation conclusions in this case.
Accordingly, initially, Lieutenant General Ton Xo, Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Public Security, confirmed at press conferences that, during the 2 years of the Covid-19 pandemic raging in Vietnam, Viet A Company linked up with some state officials, to consume more than 8.3 million test kits at medical units and facilities. The amount collected is nearly VND4.25 trillion and the bribe amount from this company is nearly VND800 billion.
But according to the investigation conclusion, the amount of money collected by Viet A Company was only VND1.2 trillion and the bribe amount was “reduced” to only VND106 billion.
Lieutenant General Ton Xo explained:
“After prosecuting the case, Phan Quoc Viet and the related defendants declared that Viet A Company has a revenue of about VND4 trillion. Phan Quoc Viet spends about 20-25% of this total, equivalent to about VND800 billion, to spend a percentage outside the contract for units and partners to buy test kits and other medical supplies and equipment. That was just the initial testimony, but after the investigation conclusion issued on August 17, these numbers were different.”
Regarding the matter of hundreds of billions of money of Viet A Company used for bribes, thanks or gifts to leading officials…, suddenly “dropping” away, from VND800 billion to VND106 billion, probably certainly, the reason given by Mr. Ton Xo will not convince public opinion and people.
In the crime of bribery, in Article 364 of the 2015 Penal Code, there are regulations on the crime of bribery that are very specific, detailed, and have aggravating circumstances. Accordingly, the larger the bribe amount, the heavier the penalty.
Therefore, it is impossible for a person of Viet A Company, who committed bribery, to accept an increase in the amount of bribe money to receive a heavier penalty for himself. That will definitely never happen.
Before the Viet A case was brought to trial, public opinion felt that the trial must be public and strictly enforced according to the law. It is impossible to judge lightly, or find ways to impeach corrupt officials, as in the “rescue flight” case.
In the “rescue flight” case, the Trial Council temporarily paused the trial, creating conditions for the defendants to present documents to pay money to overcome the consequences, before the Procuracy deliberated. It is not correct that payment of remedial fees is considered the basis for the prosecution to propose an appropriate sentence.
According to legal experts, money from corruption is money that must be returned, and cannot be considered a mitigating circumstance. We can’t let the situation continue to be corrupt. If exposed, go to court, pay back the money and it will be considered a mitigating circumstance to get a reduced sentence. This is not in accordance with the law, and also not in accordance with the people’s wishes.
More importantly, in August 2023, Deputy Commission for Internal Affairs of the Central Committee Nguyen Van Yen, when announcing the Party’s direction on the direction of handling the Viet A case, said that there will be a group considered “secondary” and will be exempt from criminal prosecution.
Or recently, on November 22, Mr. Nguyen Van Yen said that, related to the Van Thinh Phat case, only those who receive large amounts of bribe money, causing particularly serious consequences, will be prosecuted and tried. As for those who receive little and do not seek personal gain, they will not be criminally prosecuted, but will only be prosecuted for Party discipline and administration.
According to lawyers, Mr. Yen’s statements are a manifestation of the policy of “raising high and hitting softly.” “Receiving bribes without personal gain will not be prosecuted” is the ultimate goal only to rescue officials who are high-ranking party members.
Public opinion also asked the question “Where is the responsibility of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong – head of the Communist Party of Vietnam – in the Viet A case?” In March 2021, Nguyen Phu Trong, as State President, signed the Third Class Labor Medal for Viet A Company.
Public opinion believes that this medal is a cover for Viet A to abuse, raise the price of testing kits and pay large “commissions” to CDC leaders across 63 provinces and cities, so Mr. Trong cannot be blameless.
The Viet A case is not simply a corruption case, not only are officials joining hands in corruption, draining the state budget, and pickpocketing people, but it also shows signs of manipulation and and organized.
This is clearly a policy manipulation for corruption of the entire political system.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
