At the first-instance court hearing against 36 defendants for their involvement in the bidding of packages to buy medical equipment of the Dong Nai General Hospital development project on the day, the procuracy suggested handing down a prison term of 14-15 years to Nhan for violating bidding regulations and sentencing her to 16-17 years behind bars for bribery charges.

As such, she might face a jail term of 30 years, the local media reported.

Though Nhan absconded from the country, the evidence, testimonies given by other defendants and documents showed her serious violations, according to the procuracy.

Besides, the procuracy proposed sentencing Tran Dinh Thanh, former secretary of the Dong Nai Party Committee, and Dinh Quoc Thai, former chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province, to 10-11 years and 9-10 years behind bars, respectively, for bribe taking.

Deputy general director of AIC Tran Manh Ha, who is wanted, is also facing a prison term of 25-27 years, while Hoang Thi Thuy Nga, deputy general director of AIC, many be sentenced to 8-9 years behind bars, for bidding irregularities.

Phan Huy Anh Vu, ex-director of the Dong Nai Province General Hospital, might face a jail term of 19-21 years for bribery charges and bidding irregularities, causing serious consequences.

Other defendants may stay in prison for 2.5 to 11 years each.

Also, the procuracy proposed that Nhan, Ha and Nga compensate a combined VND152 billion to the Dong Nai government, suggesting seizing a total of VND57 billion from graft and illegal profits.

According to the procuracy, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan directed her subordinates to commit fraud in bidding activities to win 16 bidding packages of medical equipment at the hospital development project, causing losses of VND152 billion to the State budget.

The investigation results also showed that Tran Dinh Thanh, Dinh Quoc Thai, Phan Huy Anh Vu and Bo Ngoc Thu, former director of the Dong Nai Province Department of Planning and Investment, took a bribe of over VND43 billion from Nhan and AIC to help the firm win the bidding packages.