Xinhua, Hanoi :
“Vietnam is determined to strictly handle the case and bring to justice those who are responsible” for bribery allegation by a United States firm to Vietnamese officials, said Pham Thu Hang, vice spokesperson of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Thursday.
Hang made the remark at a regular press briefing held here Thursday while addressing reporter’s inquiry for further details of the allegation that the U.S.-based Bio-Rad company admitted giving 2.2 million U.S. dollars to local health officials in return of contracts.
Relevant ministries of Vietnam are working hard to verify the information, said Hang, adding that on Thursday, Vietnam’s minister of health sent a letter to vice U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, calling for cooperation in investigating the case.
Within its capacity, MoFA will work with Vietnamese and American authorities when necessary to verify the case, said the official.
In a related move, on Thursday, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health ( MoH) Inspector required directors of provincial departments of health nationwide and directors of central hospitals affiliated to MoH to review and make reports on the purchase of laboratory equipment of Bio-Rad from Jan. 1, 2005 to Nov. 5, 2014 to the Inspector by Nov. 15, reported state-run news agency VNA.
Earlier on Monday, the U.S.Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that a medical diagnostics and life sciences manufacturing and sales company, Bio- Rad Laboratories Inc. together with its subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, had given bribe to local officials during the 2005-2010 period.
“Vietnam is determined to strictly handle the case and bring to justice those who are responsible” for bribery allegation by a United States firm to Vietnamese officials, said Pham Thu Hang, vice spokesperson of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Thursday.
Hang made the remark at a regular press briefing held here Thursday while addressing reporter’s inquiry for further details of the allegation that the U.S.-based Bio-Rad company admitted giving 2.2 million U.S. dollars to local health officials in return of contracts.
Relevant ministries of Vietnam are working hard to verify the information, said Hang, adding that on Thursday, Vietnam’s minister of health sent a letter to vice U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, calling for cooperation in investigating the case.
Within its capacity, MoFA will work with Vietnamese and American authorities when necessary to verify the case, said the official.
In a related move, on Thursday, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health ( MoH) Inspector required directors of provincial departments of health nationwide and directors of central hospitals affiliated to MoH to review and make reports on the purchase of laboratory equipment of Bio-Rad from Jan. 1, 2005 to Nov. 5, 2014 to the Inspector by Nov. 15, reported state-run news agency VNA.
Earlier on Monday, the U.S.Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that a medical diagnostics and life sciences manufacturing and sales company, Bio- Rad Laboratories Inc. together with its subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, had given bribe to local officials during the 2005-2010 period.
