Former Secretary of Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Nhan Chien was proposed to be sentenced to 4-5 years in prison.

On the morning of October 30, after a day of questioning, a representative of the People's Procuracy of Bac Ninh province announced the indictment of 13 defendants in the case of violations in bidding for medical equipment for 6 district-level hospitals in 2015.

Same crime of bribery,The Procuracy proposed a sentence of 2 years to 2 years and 6 months in prison for former Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Hanh Chung; and 3 years and 6 months to 4 years in prison for former Director of the Bac Ninh Provincial Medical Construction Project Management Board Tran Van Tuynh.

AIC Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan (who is on the run) was recommended to serve 12-13 years in prison for bribery. Combined with the three sentences already passed, the Procuracy recommended that Ms. Nhan serve a total sentence of 30 years in prison.

AIC Deputy General Director Nguyen Hong Son was proposed to be sentenced to 10-11 years in prison for violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences.

In the same case, the remaining 7 defendants requested to be sentenced from 18 months to 30 months in prison.

According to the Procuracy, with the aim of improving the quality of life and giving people access to modern medical equipment, the Party and State have mobilized capital, loans, including government bonds to implement the project. However, the defendants took advantage of this correct policy to commit crimes.

From the top leaders of the province to the officials under their authority, they "failed to maintain a firm stance" and were tempted and took advantage of illegal benefits. This group of state officials colluded with businesses to rig bids, profit, and cause damage to the budget.

However, the Procuracy assessed that former provincial officials such as Mr. Chien, Quynh, Chung, Nhuong, Tuynh had made many contributions to the development of Bac Ninh province. Many agencies, organizations, and units submitted documents requesting a reduction in the sentences for the defendants.

The defendants Quynh, Tuynh, Nhuong, and Chung committed the crime for personal gain but have already remedied all the consequences. Due to their old age and retirement, the Procuracy requested the People's Court of Bac Ninh province to reduce their sentences.

In addition to paying all bribes and illegal profits, the Procuracy recorded that Mr. Chien voluntarily paid an additional 500 million VND to remedy the consequences of the case, Mr. Quynh 300 million VND, Tuynh 150 million VND, and Nhuong 250 million VND.

Ms. Nhan continued to be tried in absentia in the fourth case. In this case, she was accused of "negotiating, agreeing", requesting and receiving the consent of these leaders, creating conditions for AIC to win the bid for 3 equipment packages at 3 district hospitals, through her previous acquaintance with the leaders of Bac Ninh province.

Ms. Nhan then directed her deputy Nguyen Hong Son (who is on the run) to "collude" with the Project Management Board officers to carry out bid-rigging tactics as applied in most other cases related to AIC.

After the bid was successful, Ms. Nhan directed her subordinates or directly gave money to provincial leaders, continuing the "thank you" process on holidays and Tet many years later.

The Procuracy assessed that Ms. Nhan had offered bribes many times but "had fled before being prosecuted." The Ministry of Public Security had issued a wanted notice, but Ms. Nhan "still deliberately refused to appear, failed to remedy the consequences, and obstructed the investigation."

The case originated when Bac Ninh province renovated and built 6 new district-level general hospitals in Gia Binh, Yen Phong, Thuan Thanh, Luong Tai, Que Vo, and Tien Du. The Project Management Board under the Bac Ninh Department of Health was the investor.

Some leaders and officials of Bac Ninh province were accused of colluding with businesses to allow Song Hong Group to win 3 bids and receive a total payment of 70 billion VND, of which 22.8 billion VND was an inflated value. AIC won 3 bids and received a payment of 99.8 billion VND, of which 25.8 billion VND was an inflated value.

According to the prosecution, the damage in the case is the amount the provincial budget must pay for the inflated value, a total of nearly 48.7 billion VND.

According to the Procuracy, of the 6 bid packages, the package at Gia Binh District General Hospital caused the most damage, 11.3 billion VND, or 37% of the value, according to the valuation (29.7 billion VND). This bid package was implemented by AIC.

From the agreement before the project, after winning the bid, the two companies AIC and Song Hong began to give money to thank the provincial leaders.

Mr. Nguyen Nhan Chien was accused of receiving money and gifts from Ms. Nhan 13 times, totaling 13 billion VND. Of which, Mr. Chien received 4 billion VND in bribes and 10 billion VND in the form of "gifts". Mr. Quynh received a total of 10.1 billion VND but was accused of receiving 2 billion VND in bribes, the rest was money received as "gifts".

Former Director of Bac Ninh Department of Health Nguyen Hanh Chung was accused of receiving a total of 600 million VND 4 times, of which 500 million VND was from Mr. Tuynh and 100 million VND was from AIC.

Mr. Tuynh was accused of receiving 6 billion VND from Phong and Hung's group outside the contract. This money was supposed to be transferred to the provincial leaders as a thank you. However, Mr. Tuynh only paid 2.8 billion VND to the provincial leaders, keeping the remaining 3.2 billion VND for himself.

The trial continues with oral arguments.