Another question about the "Witch Hunts" (Veritaserum)

[Kethlenda]

No: HPFGUIDX 47545

I've noticed several people discussing the "witch
hunts" in which the accused Death Eaters were put on
trial, and the fact that several characters have been
condemned to Azkaban on very little evidence.  It
brings to mind a question I've had ever since I first
read GoF.

After the fall of Voldemort, it was difficult to tell
who had really followed him, who was innocent, and who
was Imperius'ed.  Yet it is in that same book that the
Veritaserum plays a major role in the plot.  Why
didn't the Ministry of Magic administer Veritaserum to
the accused Death Eaters, and get around the whole
problem of trying to figure out whether they had acted
of their own free will?  I've come up with a couple of
possible answers:

(1) It's an accidental plot hole.
(2) Only Snape knows how to make it, and either he
didn't know how to make it yet at that time, or else
was not trusted with such an important matter.
(3) Some high muckety-mucks in the MOM didn't *want*
the whole truth told, because they were afraid their
own dirty laundry would be aired.

Any thoughts?
Strix

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