Investigative Police initiated legal proceedings against Phan Quoc Viet, general director of Viet A Technologies JSC, and Pham Duy Tuyen, director of CDC Hai Duong, for allegedly raising the price of COVID-19 test kits. — Photo tuoitre.vn

Lieutenant General To An Xo, Chief of the Ministry of Public Security Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, said on Saturday that the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security has been investigating violations of regulations on raising the price of COVID-19 testing kits from Viet A Company, Hai Duong CDC (Centre for Disease Control) and related units and localities.

On December 10, 2021, the Investigative Police Agency conducted an emergency search of 16 locations in eight localities (Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Duong, Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Duong, Long An, Can Tho, Nghe An) and summoned 30 related individuals. 

In April 2020, Viet A Company was licensed by the Ministry of Health to distribute COVID-19 test kits. Since then, Viet A Company has supplied COVID-19 test kits to CDCs and other medical facilities in 62 provinces and cities across the country, with a revenue of nearly VND4 trillion.

As a result of the initial investigation, Phan Quoc Viet and key leaders of Viet A Company confessed they had taken advantage of the urgent demand for COVID-19 test kits in the country and actively provided hospitals and CDCs' with medical materials and biological products in advance. He then colluded with leaders of these units to legalise the procedure of direct appointment of the contractor, so that Viet A Company could be the providers of COVID-19 test kits to these units at prices set by the company, which were much higher than the production price.  

At the same time, Viet spent a huge amount of money to give to these officers and unit leaders. 

Viet overstated the price of equipment, input materials, and set the selling price of the COVID-19 test kit at VND470,000.

Initially, the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security identified the violation in the sale of COVID-19 test kits by Viet A Company to Hai Duong CDC through five contracts with a total value of VND151 billion. Viet had given VND30 billion to Pham Duy Tuyen, director of CDC Hai Duong, for helping him winning the contract.

On December 17, 2021, the Investigative Police Agency issued a decision to prosecute the criminal case for "violation of regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences" at Viet A Company, Hai Duong CDC and related units and localities.

At the same time, the agency decided to prosecute Phan Quoc Viet, general director of Viet A Technologies JSC; Vu Dinh Hiep (Deputy General Director of Viet A Company); Ho Thi Thanh Thao (cashier of Viet A Company); Phan Ton Noel Thao (Finance Assistant at Viet A Company); Tran Thi Hong (sales officer at Viet A Company); Pham Duy Tuyen (Director of Hai Duong CDC); Nguyen Manh Cuong (former Chief Accountant of Hai Duong CDC).

The unit has blocked bank accounts of Phan Quoc Viet and other members of Viet A Company with a value of over VND320 billion, 20 real estates in HCM City, Hanoi and other locations.

Source: Vietnam News

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