Hanoi, Vietnam (AP) – The Vietnamese Minister of Health and the mayor of the capital Hanoi were arrested as part of an investigation into the massive price increase of COVID -19 tests, state media reported.
Nguyen Tan Long was sacked as minister and Chu Ngok Anh, a former science minister, was sacked from the position of mayor of Hanoi, online news agency Tuoi Tre reported on Tuesday. They were expelled from the ruling Communist Party, according to the Ministry of Public Security, in cases of abuse of office.
An investigation previously concluded that mismanagement by science and health ministries has allowed Viet A Technology Corporation to raise the prices of test kits supplied to Vietnam’s hospitals and health centers.
About 60 suspects, including ministry officials, public health executives and military generals, have been arrested or are being investigated for participation in the price increase, the Ministry of Public Security said.
The report said the violation by the two officials had damaged Vietnam’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and cost the state budget.
Deputy Science Minister Pham Kong Tak was also arrested on Tuesday and charged with violating state resources management policies.
Vietnam received $ 172 million to deliver the test kit to 62 locations. Its CEO was arrested in December and allegedly admitted that his company in Ho Chi Minh City raised the retail price of the test kit to about $ 20, or 45% more than the original, to make a difference of $ 21.5 million.
Phan Quoc Viet allegedly admitted to investigators that he paid $ 34 million in unlawful compensation to his state partners who bought his test kits at high prices.
Source: Huffpost
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