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The verdict stated that during his career, Mr. Tuan was awarded many noble medals, was a professor and doctor, trained many generations of doctors, and saved many lives...
Former director of Hanoi Heart Hospital Nguyen Quang Tuan at the trial - Photo: GIANG LONG
At 2:00 p.m. on April 21, the Trial Council began sentencing former Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital Nguyen Quang Tuan and 11 others in the case of price gouging of medical supplies, causing a loss of more than VND53 billion.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan and his accomplices have violated the interests of the state.
In the verdict announced on the afternoon of April 21, the panel of judges assessed that at the trial the defendants confessed to the crimes as alleged in the indictment, and that the defendants sincerely repented, so this was considered a mitigating circumstance.
The indictment charging the defendants with violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences is correct, the verdict stated.
The court found that the actions of former hospital director Nguyen Quang Tuan and his accomplices had infringed upon state economic interests, caused very serious consequences, affected the reputation of state agencies and medical facilities, and caused bad public opinion in society.
"To legalize the advance payment of consumables of the two companies, Mr. Tuan directed his subordinates to submit for approval the consumables according to the prices sent in advance by the two companies, and directed Deputy Director Hoang Thi Ngoc Huong to contact for price appraisal according to the "order" of the pre-determined price," the verdict stated.
Mr. Tuan continued to direct the deputy director and subordinates to legalize documents and pay for bid packages of illegal companies, causing damage to state assets of more than 53 billion VND.
Doctor Nguyen Quang Tuan and 11 others listened to the court's verdict on the afternoon of April 21 - Photo: GIANG LONG
Mr. Tuan's violations are not related to expertise.
In the verdict, Mr. Tuan was determined to have a key role, and his subordinates actively assisted in legalizing and completing illegal bidding documents and contacting for price appraisal.
"When deciding on the defendants' punishment, the jury found that Mr. Tuan had been the director of two major hospitals, Bach Mai and Hanoi Heart. Mr. Tuan is a highly qualified doctor and a leading expert in cardiovascular medicine.
During his career, Dr. Tuan was awarded many noble medals. He is a professor and doctor who has trained many generations of doctors. He has saved many lives in his medical career and has been praised by the people," the verdict stated the mitigating circumstances of Mr. Tuan "Tim".
Regarding the circumstances of Dr. Tuan's crime, the court assessed that the former hospital director violated bidding regulations in the context of the health sector facing difficulties in medical supplies due to many shortcomings in bidding regulations.
At the trial, the defendant promptly realized and admitted his crimes. Mr. Tuan also returned all the money "given" by the company. Mr. Tuan and his family also voluntarily paid more than 6 billion VND to compensate for the consequences of the case.
Notably, the trial panel determined that Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan's criminal act was not related to medical expertise but occurred in management work.
From the above arguments, the court believes that Mr. Tuan has many mitigating circumstances, so the penalty can be applied below the level proposed by the Procuracy.
Regarding civil liability, the trial panel noted that the former chairman of Kim Hoa Phat Company had fulfilled his obligation to compensate for damages of 6.6 billion VND; the defendants Pham Thi Kim Oanh and Nguyen Duc Dang had compensated the hospital 33 billion VND, so they still had to pay 14 billion VND.
Mr. Tuan returned the 10,000 USD given by Hoang Nga, along with 6 billion VND voluntarily for repair.jurystate treasury
The specific sentences of the defendants are as follows:
Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan was prosecuted on October 21, 2021. Nearly two months later (December), Mr. Tuan was arrested by the investigation agency. To date, Mr. Tuan has been detained for about 1 year and 4 months. Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan was sentenced to 3 years in prison and is not banned from holding positions or practicing after serving the sentence.
With the same crime as Mr. Tuan, Ms. Hoang Thi Ngoc Huong (62 years old, former Deputy Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital), Mr. Doan Trong Binh (63 years old, former Deputy Head of Supplies Department) and former hospital staff Nghiem Tuan Linh were all sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
Another former hospital official, Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh (54 years old), was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
The three father and son directors of Hoang Nga Medical Supplies Company include: Pham Huy Lap (71 years old), director, sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison but given a suspended sentence; Nguyen Duc Dang (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, son-in-law of Mr. Lap) 3 years and 6 months in prison; Pham Thi Kim Oanh (chief accountant, daughter of Mr. Lap) 2 years in prison.
Defendant Phan Tuan Dat (Chairman of the Board of DirectorsKim Hoa Phat Company) 2 years in prison but suspended sentence. Deputy General Director of AIC Valuation Company Tran Phu Hung received 2 years and 6 months in prison, Nguyen Hong Dung (appraisal staff) 2 years in prison. Nguyen Trung Dung (appraisal staff) received a sentence of 23 months and 8 days equal to the time of detention.
The prosecutor proposed Mr. Tuan 4 to 5 years in prison.
Previously, in the indictment, the prosecutor's representative proposed a sentence of 4-5 years in prison for Mr. Nguyen Quang 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.
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 Supplies Department) 30-36 months in prison; Nguyen Tuan Linh (former Deputy Head of 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.
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 designation 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.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan and the defendants in court - Photo: GIANG LONG
To legalize the bidding documents for the purchase of cardiovascular intervention consumables of these two companies, former hospital director Nguyen Quang Tuan and his subordinates took advantage of their positions and powers to illegally intervene in the bidding activities.
Mr. Tuan is accused of being the highest leader, knowledgeable in expertise and bidding work, playing the role of mastermind in directing other defendants to commit repeated violations, and committing 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 Procuracy proposed a sentence lower than the prosecution framework for Mr. Tuan "to have a chance to correct his mistakes".
During the interrogation, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan repeatedly affirmed that "there was no profiteering and no agreement to share any profit from the price difference of materials".
Mr. Tuan 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".
In his final words before the court deliberated, Mr. Tuan apologized to the two hospitals where he used to be the director, asked for reduced sentences for his subordinates, and hoped that his fellow doctors would consider the case "a painful lesson" to avoid mistakes.
He admitted that borrowing materials from businesses for early use was against regulations and affirmed "I take full responsibility".
"I have no excuse for my actions," he said.
He just hopes that the court will consider and evaluate him more humanely so that he has the opportunity to return to continue contributing to medical examination and treatment, especially cardiovascular disease, and to scientific research...
According to Tuoi Tre
