Former director of Hà Nội Heart Hospital Nguyễn Quang Tuấn appears in court.—VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The former director of Hà Nội Heart Hospital has been told he will face between four and five years in prison for “violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences”.

The recommendation to jail Nguyễn Quang Tuấn, 56, was proposed by a representative of the People's Procuracy of Hà Nội.

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

Under the indictment, 11 other defendants were recommended to face sentencing of 24 months on probation to four years in prison.

The People’s Procuracy recommended to sentence Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hưởng, 62, former deputy director of the hospital, 30-36 months in prison; Nguyễn Thị Dung Hạnh, 54, former chief accountant of the hospital and head of the hospital’s finance and accounting office, 24-30 months in prison; Đoàn Trọng Bình, 63, former deputy head of the hospital’s Medical Supplies Office, 30-36 months in prison; Nghiêm Tuấn Linh, 43, former deputy head of the hospital’s Medical Supplies Office, 30-42 months in prison.

The People’s Procuracy also recommended to sentence Nguyễn Đức Đảng, 47, former chairman of the Board of Directors of Hoàng Nga Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company, from three years and a half to four years in prison; Phạm Huy Lập, 71, former director of the company, 24-30 months on probation; and Phạm Thị Kim Oanh, former chief accountant of the company, 24-30 months in prison.

The People’s Procuracy suggested to sentence Phan Tuấn Đạt, 56, former chairman of the Board of Directors and former deputy director of Kim Hòa Phát Biotechnology Joint Stock Company, 24 – 30 months on probation.

It also suggested to sentence Trần Phú Hưng, 47, former deputy general director of AIC – Việt Nam Valuation and Investment Joint Stock Company, 30-36 months in prison; Nguyễn Hồng Dũng, 41, former deputy general director of the company, 24-30 months in prison; and Nguyễn Trung Dũng, 34, appraiser of the company, 24-30 months in prison.

Indictment

The indictment announced that since 2015, Tuấn allowed the two companies to send medical supplies to be used in advance by the hospital. Tuấn, Đảng and Đạt knew each other before.

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

Defendants Tuấn, Hưởng, Hạnh, Linh and Bình abused their positions to intervene in bidding activities illegally.

These people colluded with the defendants at the two companies to carry out many violations from the bidding dossier, unit price, type, quantity of stents, and other medical supplies.

The defendants at the hospital colluded with the defendants at AIC - Việt Nam Valuation and Investment Joint Stock Company to issue appraisal certificates at the request and a fixed price of the hospital, which Tuấn approved.

This ensured that the two companies 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 the hospital and the Social Insurance Fund in all five bidding packages mentioned above.

The prosecutor at the trial on Tuesday said that the indictment prosecuting the defendants in the case was correct.

Among the defendants, Tuấn held the highest position, had knowledge in professional work and bidding procedures and he was mainly responsible for the entire operation of the hospital, the prosecutor said.

Therefore, he must bear the highest responsibility for the violations, the prosecutor said.

However, the representative of the People’s Procuracy evaluated that during the investigation and at the trial, Tuấn was sincere, especially repentant and actively re-mediate the consequences. He already returned US$10,000 that he received from Hoàng Nga Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company and VNĐ6 billion ($256,000) to remedy the consequences.

The People’s Procuracy recognised that Tuấn "had excellent achievements during his work and he was awarded the title of People's Doctor", contributing to the development of the country, so he should be considered to reduce the punishment.

Tuấn is ordered to be jointly responsible for compensating for the damage to the hospital. — VNS