HANOI: Vietnam´s former health minister was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday while dozens of other health officials and business people were handed jail terms for their roles in selling overpriced Covid-19 test kits.
The Viet A scandal, named for the semi-private firm that made the kits, allegedly saw senior officials make multiple million-dollar deals to supply hospitals and local communities with testing equipment at vastly inflated prices.
Vietnam initially stood out for its effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but officials were later caught pocketing money from companies organising repatriation flights and community testing.
After a ten-day trial in Hanoi, a court found almost all of the 38 defendants guilty of bribery, abuse of power or other charges.
Nguyen Thanh Long, health minister from 2020 to 2022, was sentenced to 18 years for taking bribes worth $2.25 million.
Earlier in the week, in his final speech before the court, Long said he “regretted and felt painful for his violation”.
“I hope that the laws would give leniency to those defendants who were doctors and healthcare workers with wrongdoings in this case,” Long was quoted as saying by state media.
Storm warnings for high winds, heavy rain and hail also were issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday
The Public and Commercial Services union said more than 300 members of staff would stop working early on Monday
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