On the morning of 20/5, Hanoi's appellate court of the supreme people's court opened the appeal hearing for Nguyen Thanh Phong and Tran Viet Nga. They were previously sentenced to 20 and 15 years in prison respectively for bribery by the first-instance court in January.

Alongside the two former directors, former deputy directors Nguyen Hung Long and Do Huu Tuan, who were originally sentenced to 12 and 7 years, also sought reduced or suspended sentences. In total, 31 other individuals involved in the case also appealed their verdicts, while the remaining 20 defendants did not appeal. The trial is expected to last for three days.

Nguyen Thanh Phong (in blue, center) and other defendants at the trial, on the morning of 20/5. Photo: Pham Du

According to the first-instance verdict, from 2018 to 2025, several leaders and specialists at the Ministry of Health's food safety department exploited vague legal regulations. They established a "give-and-take" mechanism, systematically receiving bribes across various management stages. These violations primarily occurred during the appraisal and issuance of product declaration registration certificates, advertising content confirmation certificates, and good manufacturing practice (GMP) certificates.

The issuance of product declaration registration certificates was typically "quoted" at 5-10 million VND per application, facilitated by intermediary individuals and businesses. In total, Phong, Nga, and 32 subordinates received bribes from 21 individuals and businesses, amounting to 93,7 billion VND for issuing registration certificates, 12,7 billion VND for advertising permits, and 1 billion VND related to GMP certificates. The total amount of bribes given by the defendants was 77,4 billion VND, with an additional 27,5 billion VND still under investigation.

During the court proceedings, 40 of the 55 defendants cried, expressing remorse. The two former department directors apologized, stating they "used their remaining integrity." They acknowledged that once imprisoned, money, position, and fame held no meaning, and their greatest desire now was freedom.

Le Hoang, former head of the standards and testing management department (in blue, far left) and other defendants in court, on the morning of 20/5. Photo: Pham Du

The judicial panel assessed that the defendants' criminal acts spanned many years, involving collusion among numerous leaders and managers in state management and law enforcement activities concerning food safety. These violations carried numerous potential consequences, potentially leading to substandard, untraceable food circulating in the market, directly threatening consumer health and lives.

Beyond the sentences, the judicial panel also highlighted many shortcomings in state management of food safety. It recommended that competent authorities research and issue regulations to enhance transparency in administrative processes and procedures within this sector. The court sentenced 34 individuals for bribery, with the highest sentence being 20 years for Phong and the lowest a 30-month suspended sentence. Among them was Nga's husband, former department head Le Hoang, who received a 5-year prison sentence. For the group of 21 individuals who gave bribes, the lightest sentence was a 15-month suspended sentence, and the heaviest was 5 years and 6 months in prison.