Nabbed - three senior officials linked to Vietnam test kit scandal

From left: Former Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Phạm Công Tạc, former Chairman of Hanoi’s People’s Committee Chu Ngọc Anh. - VNA/VNS

HANOI (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): The Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security late on Tuesday (June 8) issued warrants to arrest, search and proceed with their investigations into the alleged wrongdoings of former Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long, former chairman of Hanoi’s People’s Committee Chu Ngọc Anh, and former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Phạm Công Tạc.

Long was charged with “abusing positions and powers while performing official duties”, while Anh and Tạc were charged with “violation of regulations on management and use of State assets, causing loss and waste”.

According to the agency, Long had committed acts of abusing his position and power, violating the provisions of the law in the issuance of circulation registration numbers, price negotiation and price check of Covid-19 test kits, causing particularly serious damage to the State’s assets as promulgated in Clause 3, Article 356 of the Penal Code.

Anh had committed acts of violating the provisions of the law in the assignment, management and use of the national science and technology project to research and manufacture Covid-19 test kits, causing loss and waste to the State’s assets as promulgated in Clause 3, Article 219 of the Penal Code.

Tạc had committed acts of violating the provisions of the law in the management and use of the same project.

The project was chaired by the Military Medical Academy, with the participation of four members of Việt