CaliToday (11/9/2025): In a landmark verdict that reverberated through Vietnam's business and healthcare sectors, the chairwoman of the prominent My Chau Pharmacy chain was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Thursday for orchestrating a large-scale bribery scheme. The sentence, handed down by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City, marks a significant moment in the nation's sweeping anti-corruption campaign.
The defendant, whose name was officially recorded in the court proceedings, stood accused of "giving bribes" under Vietnam's Penal Code. Prosecutors successfully argued that she masterminded a sophisticated, multi-year operation to bribe government officials and hospital administrators in exchange for lucrative advantages for her company.
According to the indictment, the bribery scheme was designed to achieve two primary goals: securing favorable contracts to supply pharmaceuticals to public hospitals and fast-tracking the approval and distribution of new drugs through regulatory channels. The court found that millions of dollars in illicit payments were funneled to key individuals within the healthcare system.
"The actions of the defendant were not only a grave violation of the law but also seriously eroded public trust in the integrity of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry," the presiding judge stated while delivering the verdict in a packed courtroom. "This behavior creates an unfair market, compromises public health, and goes against the Party's and the State's determined efforts to build a clean and transparent government."
The investigation revealed a complex network of transactions and intermediaries used to disguise the illegal payments. The evidence presented during the high-profile trial included detailed financial records, witness testimonies, and communication logs that implicated several officials, whose cases are expected to be tried separately.
The My Chau Pharmacy chain, a household name with hundreds of locations across the country, has grown rapidly over the last decade. The verdict has sent shockwaves through the company's leadership and the wider pharmaceutical market, which is now expected to face increased scrutiny and stricter compliance audits.
This case is one of the most significant to emerge from Vietnam's wide-ranging "blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted high-level officials and prominent business figures alike. The severe 17-year sentence is seen as a powerful deterrent, signaling that the government will not tolerate corruption, regardless of an individual's status or wealth.
As of this report, legal representatives for the convicted chairwoman have not stated whether they will appeal the verdict. In the meantime, the sentence stands as a stark warning about the severe consequences of corruption in Vietnam.
