The Viet A case is one of the largest scandals related to the medical field ever, in terms of scale, nature, and level of crime. A series of high-ranking officials have been probed and detained.
On September 30, the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam issued an indictment, prosecuting 38 defendants in the Viet A case, on charges of “Violating regulations on bidding causing serious consequences,” “Embezzlement of assets,” “Receiving bribes,” and “Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties.”
The Procuracy’s indictment alleges that the defendants’ violations in this case caused more than VND1.2 trillion in damage, of which the state lost more than VND402 billion, and the amount of bribes was VND106 billion.
This is contrary to information released in May 2022. At that time, Lieutenant General Ton Xo, in a Government press conference, announced that Viet A Company’s illegal profits amounted to more than VND4 trillion, and the amount of money used to bribe officials was up to VND800 billion.
So where is the bribe amount difference of nearly VND700 billion? How will the money that was bribed to officials but not prosecuted by the Ministry of Public Security be handled, or will it “mysteriously” disappear?
In addition, public opinion is still skeptical that the Government officials prosecuted in the Viet A case have many signs that their sentences are being considered for reduction, for different reasons, such as: sincere confession, pay back corruption money to overcome the consequences, have many achievements during work or family that have contributed to the regime. Even brazen enough to use the excuse of being the family’s main laborer to reduce his sentence.
Former Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long is one of six officials prosecuted for “receiving bribes.” Long was accused of actively suggesting and accepting bribes with a huge amount of money, up to $2.25 million from Viet A Company. The indictment noted that Long returned the entire amount of $2.25 million he received as bribe. At the same time, the indictment further noted that during his work, Long was awarded a Medal, and his family was a family with meritorious service to the regime. It’s unclear, what is the purpose of the indictment recording these things?
Public opinion evaluates that reducing the punishment for former Government officials in the Viet A case will not only lose the deterrent effect of the law, but also demonstrate the systematic cover-up of the Communist Party of Vietnam for corrupt officials.
Even before that, the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption had issued instructions on classifying criminal groups in the Viet A case. There groups are classified as “minor” which are groups that do not have profit motives and do not receive benefits, so are not subject to criminal prosecution.
In previous feudal dynasties, there was a saying “law is impersonal” meaning that the king’s law is not biased towards anyone. Yet, as the representative of the Central Internal Affairs Commission explained, considering mitigating factors is the Party’s humane, compassionate, but also extremely strict policy. This clearly shows that the law in Vietnam is not respected, the enforcement of the law is arbitrary and emotional.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the irresponsibility combined with selfish greed of the vast majority of leaders in the Communist Party of Vietnam, from the central to local levels, is the cause of unjust deaths of more than 40,000 victims. The leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam must take full responsibility.
Corruption is a term for “humanity,” but strictly speaking, it is the act of stealing and robbing by scoundrels. The state apparatus should not admit these dishonest people. If you lack ability, you can still be sarcastic, but if you lack moral character, if you are assigned to hold important responsibilities, you will only be a saboteur. With the kind of leaders who steal everything from the people, they will destroy the country.
What is the purpose of the General Secretary as he tries to rescue these corrupt officials? Or does the General Secretary have something to do with them, so he behaves “humanely” like that?
Thoibao.de (Translated)
