20 Apr 2021 The Chinese coronavirus pandemic has allowed dozens of countries around the world to expand the power of their central governments, presumably to protect populations and facilitate processes like mass vaccinations. Not all that power has fallen into good hands, however, leading several presidents and senior government officials to have to explain the disappearances of gigantic emergency funds, the vaccination of seemingly healthy but well-connected people over the elderly and infirm, and other perks that materialized for politicians while average citizens were largely left to fend for themselves. Below, six countries where senior officials were caught abusing their powers — stealing vaccines, making money for health worker protective gear vanish, or otherwise profiting from the pandemic.