The Hanoi People’s Court on January 12 sentenced former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long to 18 years in prison for taking bribes in the COVID-19 test kit case involving in the Viet A Technology JSC.

Nguyen Thanh Long, former Minister of Health, might be imprisoned for 19 or 20 years for having taken an exceptionally high bribe, VND51 billion, in the Viet A test kit price gouging case.

The former deputy director of Việt Á Company Vũ Đình Hiệp pleaded guilty to the charges of bribing government officials to win contracts with Centres for Disease Control (CDCs), Hà Nội's People Court was told on Thursday.

The general director of Việt Á Company and his deputy bribed a number of government officials to obtain licences to sell COVID testing kits at high prices during the pandemic, Hà Nội's People Court was told yesterday.

As of this morning, 38 defendants were present at the trial for their criminal offenses in the Covid-19 test kit case at Viet A Company.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet A Technologies JSC Phan Quoc Viet has been sentenced a total of 25 years in prison on charges of "abusing position and power while on duty" and “violating bidding regulations, causing serious damages”.

Former Viet A Company's General Director Phan Quoc Viet was slapped with two charges of "abusing position and power while on duty" and "violating bidding regulations to serious damages".

A total of 38 defendants, including two former ministers, will go on trial in early January 2024 in a notorious graft scandal related to the COVID-19 test kit overcharging scandal at Viet A Technologies JSC, according to the Hanoi People’s Court.

The Supreme People's Procuracy has prosecuted 38 individuals involving in the COVID-19 test kit overcharging at the Viet A Company.

Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and former Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh have been facing charges of taking bribes and violating regulations on the management and use of State assets, respectively, in the Viet A case.

Phan Quoc Viet, founder and general director of Viet A Technology Corporation, is facing allegations of offering bribes totaling VND106 billion to officials and making illicit gains of VND1.2 trillion through inflated prices of Covid test kits.

The Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Police Agency has recently delivered its investigation conclusions and proposed the Supreme People's Procuracy prosecute 38 individuals involving in the COVID-19 test kit overcharging at Viet A company.

The Ministry of Public Security expects to complete the investigation into the COVID-19 test kit scam at Viet A Technologies JSC in the second quarter of this year, the ministry’s spokesperson Lieutenant General To An Xo said on May 5.