After nearly two days of deliberations, the Bac Ninh People’s Court convicted 13 defendants on charges of “Bribery; Receiving Bribes; Violating Bidding Regulations Leading to Serious Consequences; and Abuse of Power in Public Service” in the case involving AIC Company, Bac Ninh Department of Health, and related entities.

The court sentenced Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, Chairwoman and CEO of AIC Company, to 13 years, consolidating prior sentences to a total of 30 years, as the prosecution recommended.

Bribery Convictions:

- Former Bac Ninh Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Nhan Chien received a 54-month sentence, following the prosecution’s recommendation of 4-5 years.

- Former Chairman of Bac Ninh People’s Committee Nguyen Tu Quynh was sentenced to 36 months.

- Former Director of the Bac Ninh Department of Health Nguyen Hanh Chung received 24 months.

- Former Director of the Health Project Management Board Tran Van Tuynh was sentenced to 42 months.

Defendant Nguyen Van Nhuong, former Bac Ninh People’s Committee Vice Chairman, was sentenced to 26 months for abuse of power.

Violating Bidding Regulations:

- Nguyen Hong Son, AIC Company Deputy CEO, received a 10-year sentence.

- La Tuan Hung, CEO of Song Hong Joint Stock Company, received 24 months.

- Former Head of Planning at the Health Project Management Board, Nguyen Dang An, was sentenced to 30 months.

- Former Deputy Head of Planning Nguyen Kim Huan received 18 months.

Other defendants, including board members and AIC employees, received sentences ranging from 18 to 24 months for their roles in bid manipulation.

According to the court, around 2013, the late Chairman of Song Hong Corporation Dang Tien Phong lobbied Tran Van Tuynh to secure contracts for hospital projects, promising to leverage central government connections to secure additional funding. From 2015 to 2017, Song Hong Corporation secured three illicit contracts worth millions for hospitals in Tien Du, Yen Phong, and Que Vo. Tuynh reportedly accepted nearly $250,000 in bribes.

Evidence showed that Tuynh then passed approximately $42,000 to former Party Chief Nguyen Nhan Chien and other officials, keeping a significant portion for personal expenses.

Additionally, Nguyen Nhan Chien accepted $125,000 from Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, AIC Chairwoman and CEO, according to court findings.

During the bid selection for equipment procurement across six district hospitals, defendants from AIC and Song Hong were found guilty of orchestrating bid rigging, ultimately causing more than $2 million in damages to the state.

Bao Khanh -  T. Nhung