Defendant Nguyễn Quang Tuấn at the trial. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The trial of 12 people, including former officials and leaders, for "violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences" in medical equipment bidding at the Hà Nội Heart Hospital began on Monday. 

The defendants stand accused of causing more than VNĐ53.6 billion (US$2.2 million) in damages to Hà Nội Heart Hospital and the Social Insurance Fund.

Of the defendants, five are former officials and leaders of Hà Nội Heart Hospital, including Nguyễn Quang Tuấn, former director and chairman of the hospital's Procurement Council; Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hưởng, former deputy director; Nguyễn Thị Dung Hạnh, former chief accountant and head of the finance and accounting department; and Đoàn Trọng Bình and Nghiêm Tuấn Linh, both former deputy heads of the medical equipment department.

The other seven defendants included three from Hoàng Nga Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company, namely Nguyễn Đức Đảng, former chairman of the Board of Directors, Phạm Huy Lập, former director, and Phạm Thị Kim Oanh, former chief accountant.

Phan Tuấn Đạt is the former chairman of the Board of Directors and former deputy director of Kim Hòa Phát Biotechnology Joint Stock Company.

Three other defendants were from AIC Vietnam Investment and Valuation Joint Stock Company. They are Trần Phú Hưng, former deputy general director; Nguyễn Hồng Dung, deputy general director, appraiser; and Nguyễn Trung Dũng, appraiser.

According to the indictment announced at the trial, since 2015, Nguyễn Quang Tuấn directed Hoàng Nga Company and Kim Hòa Phát Company to send medical supplies to be used in advance by Hà Nội Heart Hospital.

Afterwards, extensive bidding procedures were legitimately completed, shortened bidding was designated, and Tuấn approved the decision for these two companies to win the bidding for extensive packages in 2016 and four designated packages in 2017.

Defendants Nguyễn Quang Tuấn, Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hưởng, Nguyễn Thị Dung Hạnh, Nghiêm Tuấn Linh and Đoàn Trọng Bình abused their positions to intervene in bidding activities illegally.

These people colluded with the defendants at Hoàng Nga Company and Kim Hòa Phát Company to carry out many violations from the bidding dossier, unit price, type, quantity of stents, and other medical supplies.

Afterwards, the defendants at Hà Nội Heart Hospital colluded with the defendants at AIC Company to issue appraisal certificates at the request and a fixed price of Hà Nội Heart Hospital, which Nguyễn Quang Tuấn approved.

This ensured that Hoàng Nga Company and Kim Hòa Phát Company won the bids and sold medical equipment in violation of the Procurement Law, causing more than VNĐ53.6 billion ($2.2 million) in damages to Hà Nội Heart Hospital and the Social Insurance Fund in all five bidding packages mentioned above. — VNS