Bid collusion case at Hanoi Heart Hospital: Defendants caused losses of more than 53.6 billion VND

On the morning of April 17, the Hanoi People's Court opened the first-instance trial of the bid-rigging case that occurred at the Hanoi Heart Hospital.

Defendants at the first instance trial. Photo: Pham Kien/VNA

The trial panel consists of 3 people: 1 judge, 2 people's jurors, chaired by Judge Nguyen Xuan Van (Chief of Criminal Court, Hanoi People's Court).

The 12 defendants in this case were prosecuted by the Supreme People's Procuracy for the crime of "Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences" as prescribed in Article 222, Clause 3 - Penal Code. Among them, there are 5 defendants who are former officials and leaders of Hanoi Heart Hospital, including: Nguyen Quang Tuan (born in 1967, former Director, Chairman of the Hospital's Procurement Council), Hoang Thi Ngoc Huong (born in 1961, former Deputy Director), Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh (born in 1969, former Chief Accountant, Head of Finance and Accounting Department), Doan Trong Binh (born in 1960) and Nghiem Tuan Linh (born in 1980, both former Deputy Heads of Medical Supplies Department).

Of the remaining 7 defendants, 3 are from Hoang Nga Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company (abbreviated as Hoang Nga Company), including: Nguyen Duc Dang (born in 1976, Chairman of the Board of Directors), Pham Huy Lap (born in 1952, Director), and Pham Thi Kim Oanh (born in 1981, Chief Accountant).

Defendant Phan Tuan Dat (born in 1967), former Chairman of the Board of Directors, former Deputy Director of Kim Hoa Phat Biotechnology Joint Stock Company (abbreviated as Kim Hoa Phat Company).

The three defendants belong to AIC Vietnam Investment and Valuation Joint Stock Company (abbreviated as AIC Valuation Company) including: Tran Phu Hung (born in 1976, Deputy General Director), Nguyen Hong Dung (born in 1982, Deputy General Director, Appraiser), Nguyen Trung Dung (born in 1989, appraisal staff).

Of the 12 defendants, 9 were detained and 3 were on bail.

At the trial, 19 lawyers participated in defending the defendants, of which defendant Nguyen Quang Tuan had 2 lawyers defending him. A representative of Hanoi Heart Hospital was present as a civil plaintiff. A representative of AIC Valuation Company and a number of people with related rights and obligations were also present at the trial.

There were three prosecutors assigned to practice the right to prosecute and supervise the trial at the trial. However, one prosecutor was absent due to illness, and the Trial Panel determined that this absence did not affect the trial process. The defendants and lawyers also had no comments on the absence of this prosecutor.

During the opening proceedings of the trial, defendant Phan Tuan Dat's lawyer requested to summon additional members of the asset valuation council to clarify the valuation conclusions regarding medical supplies.

After consultation, the Trial Panel believes that the trial will last for many days, and if necessary, the Trial Panel will convene a trial.

Defendant Nguyen Quang Tuan, former Director and Chairman of the Purchasing Council of Hanoi Heart Hospital and former Director of Bach Mai Hospital, testified in court. Photo: Pham Kien/VNA

According to the indictment announced at the trial, since 2015, defendant Nguyen Quang Tuan has directed Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company to deposit medical supplies in advance for Hanoi Heart Hospital to use first. Then, he legalized and completed the procedures for open bidding and shortened designated bidding, so that Nguyen Quang Tuan could sign the decision approving Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company to win the open bidding package in 2016, 4 designated bidding packages in 2017, in order to pay for the supplies and chemicals that had been deposited and used before, according to the unit price agreed between Nguyen Quang Tuan and Nguyen Duc Dang (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hoang Nga Company), Phan Tuan Dat (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kim Hoa Phat Company).

In order to legalize the bidding documents for the purchase of cardiovascular interventional consumables of these two companies, the defendants: Nguyen Quang Tuan, Hoang Thi Ngoc Huong, Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh, Nghiem Tuan Linh and Doan Trong Binh took advantage of their positions and powers to illegally intervene in the bidding activities. These people colluded with the defendants at Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company to commit many violations from the stage of preparing the bidding documents, unit prices, types, quantities of stents and other materials that Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company would sell to Hanoi Heart Hospital.

Then, the defendants at Hanoi Heart Hospital colluded with the defendants at AIC Valuation Company to issue a Certificate of Valuation as requested and the fixed price of Hanoi Heart Hospital was approved by Nguyen Quang Tuan, ensuring that Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company won the bid, selling medical supplies in violation of the Law on Bidding, causing damage to Hanoi Heart Hospital and the Social Insurance Fund of more than VND 53.6 billion in all 5 bid packages mentioned above.

The trial is expected to last five days.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper

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