The public were shocked early this week when the media reported that the Taiwanese-invested monosodium glutamate maker Vedan was among 50 firms honored on Vietnam Entrepreneur’s Day (October 13) for producing three of the top 100 products safe for public health in 2009.

Sinh blamed her employees for printing the certificates according to the list of nominated firms, and not of those selected for the award.

Van reportedly said in her self-criticism note to Natusi that she had “mistakenly used the list of businesses that met the requirements for being nominated to print the certificates and to post the award results on the center’s website.”

She said the wrongdoing had affected the reputation of the center and she would accept any punishment given by the directors.

Sinh said the typist will not benefit from any severance pay “due to the serious mistake she has made.”

During a meeting at the center on Saturday, Sinh also admitted her own fault not reminding Van that she had to wait for the official award decision to fill in the certificates.

Adverse public reaction had forced the organizers, Natusi and the southern office of the Ministry of Science and Technology, to deny selecting Vedan for the award.

Vedan, which initially refused to return the award as requested by Natusi, later reversed its decision saying it was doing so in response to public demand.

Sinh told the newswire Vnexpress that Natusi was capable and authorized to co-organize the award with Ministry of Science and Technology.

She rejected accusations that “Vedan was buying the award” saying the participation fee of VND5 million (US$279) per product that participating companies had to pay “was taken to pay for advertisements, medals, live broadcasts and other tasks during the organization process.

“Firms that are not honored will be refunded,” she said.

She revealed that Natusi had collected around VND1 billion ($55,750) in participation fees from nominated firms.

Ngo Quy Viet, director general of the Directorate for Standards and Quality under the Ministry of Science and Technology, on Saturday said a team led by the ministry’s chief inspector Tran Minh Dung will study the report submitted by its southern office and impose penalties accordingly.

Several businesses and officials have said that granting awards to enterprises was a dubious business that enabled the purchase of “false prestige” without merit.

Reported by Minh Nam – Quang Duan