Prosecution and investigation of bid collusion at the Department of Science and Technology of Quang Ngai

On January 13, the Investigation Police Agency (Quang Ngai Police) announced that the unit had issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case of Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences. The case is related to a bidding package for equipment procurement at the Quang Ngai Center for Science and Technology Application and Services (Quang Ngai Department of Science and Technology).

The prosecution of the case is related to a citizen's complaint. This person sent a complaint to the Investigation Police Agency accusing the Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Nguyen Van Thanh, of wrongdoing in purchasing equipment for the Center for Application and Services of Science and Technology.

Khởi tố, điều tra hành vi thông thầu tại Sở KHCN Quảng Ngãi - 1 — Quang Ngai police initiated a case to investigate bid collusion at the Quang Ngai Center for Science and Technology Application and Services (Photo: Quoc Trieu).

On that basis, the police proceeded to resolve the source of information reporting the crime. The results of the resolution of the source of information reporting showed that during the process of participating in the bidding for the procurement package of specialized machinery and equipment of the Quang Ngai Center for Science and Technology Application and Services, Hoang Vinh Production, Trade and Service Company Limited committed fraud in preparing the bidding documents.

This company also colluded with other bidding units to win the bid. This behavior shows signs of the crime of violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences.

Regarding the Department of Science and Technology of Quang Ngai, recently, Director of the Department Nguyen Van Thanh has been continuously denounced. Through verification, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province has pointed out many violations by Mr. Thanh.

In December 2023, Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee Dang Van Minh signed and issued a conclusion on the content of the accusation against Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh. Accordingly, Mr. Thanh advised the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to assign Mr. Pham Xuan Hoi, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Genetics, to be the Head of the provincial-level science and technology project "Selection and rapid multiplication of some new cassava varieties resistant to high-yield mosaic disease for sustainable cassava cultivation in Quang Ngai".

After that, two cassava varieties resistant to mosaic disease, HN3 and HN5, were put into production, but these varieties were not yet allowed to be circulated in Quang Ngai province. This is a violation of the law.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh also advised the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to assign Nong Tin Science and Technology Company Limited to carry out the provincial-level science and technology project "Experimenting on the model of planting, processing and consuming Sacha inchi products according to the value chain in Ba To and Tra Bong districts".

Meanwhile, the medicinal variety Sacha inchi (variety S18) is not yet allowed to circulate in Quang Ngai province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh also advised the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to issue decisions on selection and direct assignment of provincial-level science and technology tasks to 9 agencies in violation of regulations.

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