The mysterious character in the case of former Deputy Minister Truong Quoc Cuong

The first-instance criminal trial of former Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong and his accomplices in the cases of “Trading in counterfeit goods as medicine”, “Lack of responsibility, causing serious consequences” and “Abuse of position”. , powers while performing official duties” occurred at the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health), Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities is one of the cases under the Central Steering Committee on prevention of disease. , anti-corruption, negative monitoring, directing and requesting to urgently complete the investigation, prosecution and trial in the second quarter of 2022.

In relation to this case, the procedural authorities determined that Nguyen Le Xuan Khang played an important role. So who is this “mysterious character”? Nguyen Le Xuan Khang is a Vietnamese residing in Canada and holding Canadian citizenship. Around mid-2010, Khang asked his nephew, Vo Manh Cuong (Director of H&C International Maritime Trading Company), who is the defendant in this case, to act as a representative to develop market and customer relations. in the pharmaceutical business in Vietnam. At the end of 2010, Khang gave Cuong a seal “HEALTH 2000 VIET NAM BRANCH” and a seal “HEALTH 2000 INC. H2K” for Cuong to manage and use in Vietnam.

Defendant Vo Manh Cuong.

During the business cooperation process, Khang also introduced Cuong to Raymundo Y.Mararac (Filipino nationality), who is the Production Manager of Health 2000 Canada in the Philippines, and also the CEO of Helix Canada Company. abbreviated as Helix Canada). After that, Cuong and Raymundo went to the headquarters of VNPharma Company to meet Nguyen Minh Hung (former Chairman of the Board of Directors, cum General Director of VNPharma Company, is the defendant in this case) and VNPharma employees to discuss. on Helix Canada’s drug sales.

Hung said, meeting with Raymundo to discuss the purchase and sale of products. The parties have agreed that Raymundo will provide FSC and GMP (certificates) of Helix Canada for VNPharma Company to carry out procedures to apply for an import visa for drugs that the Vietnamese market is in demand to use. . In addition, pending the issuance of a Visa, Helix Canada will produce drugs with the same active ingredients, uses and trade names as those previously sold to VNPharma by Health 2000 Canada.

Raymundo introduced Cuong will represent Helix Canada, on behalf of Raymundo handle sales, develop the market in Vietnam and give Vo Manh Cuong the seal “HELIX PHARMA CEUTICALS INC HPI-ONTARIO CANADA” for Cuong to manage. used in Vietnam. Cuong directly agreed to sell 4/7 drugs to VNPharma Company, through 15 contracts, with a total quantity of 838,100 boxes, worth more than 54 billion VND.

The results of the investigation have clarified the act of trading in counterfeit medicines as medicines at VNPharma Company. The agreement to buy, sell and import Health 2000 Canada-branded drugs in 20/36 contracts is directly related to Nguyen Le Xuan Khang. However, now Khang is on the run. Due to the expiration of the investigation period, the investigation agency has temporarily suspended the investigation, when Nguyen Le Xuan Khang is arrested, he will continue to investigate to clarify the criminal behavior and handle according to the law.

The results of mutual legal assistance from Canada determined, Health 2000 does not have a drug factory in Canada and does not produce any pharmaceutical products. Health 2000 does not have a representative office in Vietnam, has only used one seal since its establishment until now and this seal has never been brought out of Canada. The Canadian authorities confirmed that they did not issue FSC for Health 2000 Canada-branded drugs, and did not issue any Drug Manufacturing License and GMP for Health 2000’s factory.

For Raymundo Y.Mararac, the investigation documents determined, from January 29, 2009 to June 15, 2012, Raymundo was hired to work for Health 2000 Canada, holding the position of Managing Director in the Philippines. From October 28, 2012 to August 3, 2014, Raymundo entered Vietnam 13 times to participate in drug business activities. The investigating agency has provided mutual legal assistance, but so far there has been no response, so there is not enough evidence to handle it. When it is clarified, it will be considered and handled later.

Currently, the case of former Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong is under trial. On May 14, a representative of the Procuracy exercising the right to prosecute at the trial asked the jury to sentence Truong Quoc Cuong to between 7-8 years in prison for the crime of “lack of responsibility, causing serious consequences”. Former Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of VNPharma Nguyen Minh Hung was recommended 20 years in prison for the crime of “trading in counterfeit goods as medicine”.

In addition to the 17 years in prison of the previous sentence, the representative of the Procuracy proposed that the trial panel force defendant Nguyen Minh Hung to serve the common penalty of both sentences of 30 years in prison. Former director of H&C International Maritime Trading Company Vo Manh Cuong was offered 20 years in prison for the crime of “trading in counterfeit goods as medicine”. In addition to the 20 years in prison of the previous sentence, the representative of the Procuracy proposed the jury to force the defendant Vo Manh Cuong to serve the common penalty of both sentences of 30 years in prison.

According to Nguyen Huong