Viet A case: Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long sentenced to 18 years in prison

The defendants were punished for the following crimes: Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences; Violating regulations on State asset management causing waste and loss; Giving bribes; Receiving bribes; Taking advantage of positions and powers while performing official duties; Taking advantage of influence over people with positions and powers for personal gain.

Accordingly, the Court acquitted defendant Nguyen Thanh Danh (former Director of CDC Binh Duong).

Defendant Phan Quoc Viet (Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Viet A Company) was sentenced to 14 years in prison for “Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”, 15 years in prison for “Giving bribes”; the total sentence for Viet is 29 years in prison. Defendant Vu Dinh Hiep (Deputy General Director of Viet A Company) was sentenced to 7 years in prison for “Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”, 8 years in prison for “Giving bribes”; the total sentence for Hiep is 15 years in prison.

Six defendants were sentenced by the court for the crime of “Accepting bribes” including: Trinh Thanh Hung (former Deputy Director, Department of Science and Technology of Economic and Technical Sectors, Ministry of Science and Technology) to 14 years in prison; Nguyen Thanh Long (former Minister of Health) to 18 years in prison; Nguyen Huynh (former Deputy Head of Drug Price Management Department, Department of Drug Administration, Ministry of Health) to 9 years in prison; Nguyen Minh Tuan (former Director of Department of Medical Equipment and Construction, Ministry of Health) to 8 years in prison; Nguyen Nam Lien (former Director of Department of Financial Planning, Ministry of Health) to 7 years in prison; Pham Duy Tuyen (former Director of Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Hai Duong province) to 13 years in prison.

Two defendants: Chu Ngoc Anh (former Minister of Science and Technology) and Pham Cong Tac (former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology) were both sentenced to 3 years in prison for the same crime of "Violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste".

The defendants were convicted of the crime of “Abusing position and power while performing official duties”: Pham Manh Cuong (former Director of the Department of Health of Hai Duong province) and Nguyen Van Trinh (former Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister) were both sentenced to 4 years in prison...

Two defendants: Pham Ton Noel Thao (Assistant to Finance, Viet A Company) and Ho Thi Thanh Thao (Treasurer of Viet A Company) were both sentenced to 4 years in prison for the crime of "Giving bribes".

Two defendants: Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (former Specialist of Vietnam Education Publishing House) 30 months in prison, Nguyen Bach Thuy Linh (Director of SNB Holdings One Member Limited Liability Company) 30 months in prison but suspended sentence, both for the crime of "Taking advantage of influence over people in positions of power for personal gain".

The remaining 20 defendants were sentenced for the crime of "Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences", including 3 employees of Viet A Company: Tran Thi Hong and Le Trung Nguyen, both sentenced to 30 months in prison, Tran Tien Luc to 36 months in prison; Lam Van Tuan (former Director of CDC Bac Giang) to 5 years in prison. Defendants Nguyen Manh Cuong (former Chief Accountant of CDC Hai Duong), Nguy Thi Hau (former Deputy Head of Finance and Planning Department, CDC Bac Giang), Nguyen Truong Giang (General Director of VNDAT Company) were all sentenced to 30 months in prison. Phan Huy Van (Director of Phan Anh - Bac Giang Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Company), Phan Thi Khanh Van (self-employed), Tieu Quoc Cuong (former Chief Accountant, former Deputy Head of Finance and Planning Department, Binh Duong Department of Health) were all sentenced to 36 months in prison. Nguyen Thi Trang (former Director of Financial Consulting and Services Center, Hai Duong Department of Finance) was sentenced to 30 months in prison but given a suspended sentence. Vu Van Doanh (Director of Thang Long Valuation Company), Ho Cong Hieu (appraiser of Southern Valuation and Information Joint Stock Company, Nghe An Branch), Tran Thanh Phong (Deputy Head of Finance and Accounting Department, CDC Binh Duong) were each sentenced to 24 months in prison but given a suspended sentence. Ta Ngoc Chuc (Director of Global Valuation and Investment Company) was sentenced to 20 months in prison, combined with the previous sentence of 3 years and 9 months in prison, the total sentence is 5 years and 5 months in prison. Nguyen Van Dinh (former Director of CDC Nghe An), Nguyen Thi Hong Tham (former Chief Accountant of CDC Nghe An) were each sentenced to 2 years and 12 days in prison, equal to the time spent in detention, so they were released immediately at the court. Le Thi Hong Xuyen (employee of CDC Binh Duong) was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Nguyen Thi Thuy (Project Director of VNDAT Company) was sentenced to 26 months in prison. Ninh Van Sinh (former Deputy Director of Trung Tin Valuation Joint Stock Company) was sentenced to 18 months in prison, plus 4 years of imprisonment from the previous sentence, for a total sentence of 5 years and 6 months in prison.

The Trial Panel determined that in this case, the defendants' actions were very serious, violating public order and security, economic management safety, infringing on the reputation and honor of relevant agencies and organizations, causing serious damage to the State budget, to the mobilization of social resources, causing public outrage and discontent, degrading the morality, lifestyle and behavior of a number of cadres and Party members, and losing the trust and prestige of the Party and authorities at all levels.

Therefore, it is necessary to prosecute, bring the defendants to trial and apply strict penalties to each defendant, for each crime commensurate with the nature and level of consequences of each defendant's actions, in order to punish acts that go against the interests of the State, the people and society. To fight and prevent crime in general and consider special leniency for defendants who committed crimes while performing urgent epidemic prevention and control tasks, did not benefit or benefited insignificantly.