VIETNAM – Further details have been released by investigators regarding a significant and complex bribery case centered at the Food Safety Department, a key agency under Vietnam's Ministry of Health. The case involves an organized ring that allegedly manipulated the licensing process for dietary and health supplement products, bypassing safety regulations.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the case based on the latest information from investigators and press reports:
1. Nature of the Criminal Activities:
The accused officials at the Food Safety Department are alleged to have accepted money from various businesses to falsify official documents, bypass critical evaluation procedures, and approve products that did not meet the required standards for quality or efficacy as declared.
Specifically, they are accused of illegally issuing "Certificates of Registered Product Declaration" and "Certificates of Advertising Content," which are essential for products to be legally sold and marketed to the public in Vietnam.
2. The Accused and Their Roles:
Core of the Ring: The investigation is focused on a group of leaders and specialists within the Food Safety Department who held direct authority over the review and approval of product applications.
Expanded Investigation: The case was initially launched with charges against a few individuals. However, the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security (C03) has since uncovered evidence implicating more people, leading to additional prosecutions. While a full list of the newly accused is being updated, it reportedly includes other state officials as well as directors of intermediary and manufacturing companies.
3. The Scale of Bribery:
The figure of "tens of billions of VND" represents the total sum this ring allegedly received from numerous enterprises over an extended period.
The "price" for each illegally issued license could range from several hundred million to billions of VND (equivalent to tens of thousands of US dollars), depending on the complexity of the application and the product type. Payments were often funneled through individuals or brokerage firms to conceal the transactions.
4. Impact and Consequences:
For Consumers: The licensing of substandard products poses a direct threat to public health. Consumers may have purchased supplements that were ineffective or, worse, contained harmful substances, misled by official-looking approvals and advertising.
For the Market: These corrupt practices created an unfair competitive environment, disadvantaging legitimate businesses that were unwilling to engage in bribery, while allowing companies with inferior products to dominate the market.
5. The Ongoing Investigation:
This case is a significant part of Vietnam's broader "blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign, a nationwide initiative.
Investigators are continuing their work to clarify the specific role of each individual in the ring, recover illicitly gained assets, and determine the accountability of higher-ranking officials, if any are found to be involved.
This scandal once again highlights critical loopholes in the management, licensing, and post-licensing supervision of the dietary supplement industry—a sector with a profound impact on public health. The authorities are demonstrating a strong resolve to handle this case thoroughly and transparently.
