Former Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital proposed 4-5 years in prison

Former Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital Nguyen Quang Tuan at the trial on the morning of April 18.

After a day of questioning, on the morning of April 18, the representative of the prosecutor's office announced the indictment and proposed sentence for Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan (former director of Hanoi Heart Hospital) and 11 others in the case of inflating the price of medical supplies.

The prosecutor proposed a 4-5 year prison sentence for Mr. Tuan for violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences.

This is a lower sentence than the penalty Mr. Tuan was prosecuted for, which was 10-20 years in prison.

Unlike the image of him wearing flip-flops in court yesterday, Dr. Tuan appeared in court today wearing a light-colored shirt and leather shoes.

Sitting in the first row, his hands clasped together in front of his stomach, Mr. Tuan kept his head down for nearly an hour while listening to the prosecutor's indictment.

The proposed sentences for Mr. Tuan's subordinates at Hanoi Heart Hospital are: Hoang Thi Ngoc Huong (former Deputy Director) from 30-36 months in prison; Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh (former chief accountant) 24-30 months in prison; Doan Trong Binh (former deputy head of the supplies department) 30-36 months in prison; Nguyen Tuan Linh (former deputy head of the supplies department) 36-42 months in prison.

The remaining defendants were recommended a minimum sentence of 24 months suspended sentence and a maximum of 4 years in prison.

"Typical in collusion of group interests"

The representative of the prosecution agency at the court assessed the case of "inflating the price" of medical equipment and supplies at Hanoi Heart Hospital as a "typical example of collusion in group interests".

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan violated regulations and bidding, creating conditions for Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company to consign medical supplies for the hospital to use first.

Then, legalize and complete the open bidding procedures, shortened bidding designation and sign the decision for two companies to win the open bidding package in 2016 and four bidding packages in 2017.

The price of materials and chemicals brought into the hospital was paid according to the unit price previously agreed between Mr. Tuan and the enterprise, the indictment stated.

To legalize the bidding documents for the purchase of cardiovascular intervention consumables of these two companies, Mr. Tuan and his subordinates took advantage of their positions and powers to illegally intervene in the bidding activities.

The prosecutor's representative announced the indictment and proposed sentences for the defendants.

A group of former leaders and officials at Hanoi Heart Hospital colluded with defendants at Hoang Nga Company and Kim Hoa Phat Company to commit many violations from the stage of preparing bidding documents, unit prices, types, quantities of stents and other materials that the enterprise would sell to Hanoi Heart Hospital.

In 2017, Mr. Tuan and his subordinates continued to legalize the bidding procedures for four shortened bidding packages, using the unit price of materials from the 2016 bidding package to pay for consigned goods...

The total damage of the case is alleged to be nearly 54 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan is especially remorseful.

From the above evidence, the prosecutor believes that the documents and evidence collected during the investigation and the questioning process in court show that the prosecution and trial of Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan is completely correct.

"Mr. Tuan is the highest leader, knowledgeable in expertise and bidding work, playing the role of mastermind in directing other defendants to commit repeated violations and commit crimes over a long period of time.

The defendant's actions were particularly serious, causing damage of nearly 54 billion VND," the indictment stated.

From the above arguments, the prosecutor believes that a severe punishment is needed for Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan.

However, during the process of resolving the case, Mr. Tuan was assessed as sincere, paid the benefit amount, had many achievements in the working process, especially at the trial he showed remorse...

Therefore, the prosecutor proposed a sentence lower than the prosecution framework for Mr. Tuan "to have a chance to correct his mistakes".

The remaining people were assessed to have committed crimes with different motives, causing serious consequences, together causing damage to state property of nearly 54 billion VND.

Previously, during the interrogation, Mr. Tuan expressed remorse when admitting the wrongdoings as charged in the indictment. Mr. Tuan answered the court's questions in a soft voice, always bowing his head each time he said "the defendant accepts responsibility".

However, during the interrogation process, he repeatedly affirmed that "there was no profiteering and no agreement to share any profit from the price difference of materials".

He admitted that the bidding was wrong but "there was no other way" because "in the urgent situation the hospital was at risk of closing due to lack of supplies".

He admitted that borrowing materials from businesses for early use was against regulations and affirmed "I take full responsibility".

According to Tuoi Tre