Former Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien told investigators she received a total of VND2.5 billion (approximately US$102,000) from subordinates on several occasions, but said she did not know the origin of the money.

As previously reported by VietNamNet, the Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security has completed its investigation and proposed prosecuting Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, former Minister of Health, over violations related to the second campus projects of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital.

According to investigation findings, during the implementation of the two projects and the selection of contractors for 10 construction packages, Nguyen Thi Kim Tien either directed or agreed with proposals from Nguyen Chien Thang, former Director of the Central Medical Projects Management Unit, to facilitate certain contractors in undertaking these packages.

In return, Thang asked the contractors to pay the management unit an amount equivalent to 5 percent of the pre-tax advance or payment value of each package.

Under this arrangement, contractors later gave Thang a total of VND88.465 billion (US$3.61 million). From this amount, Thang paid Nguyen Thi Kim Tien VND2.5 billion (US$102,000).

Thang also gave Nguyen Huu Tuan, former Deputy Director of the unit, VND2.47 billion (US$101,000); Tran Van Sinh, former Head of the Technical and Cost Estimation Division, VND2.97 billion (US$121,000); Nguyen Kim Trung, former Deputy Director, VND1.725 billion (US$70,000); and Le Thanh Thiem, Director of Sao Nam Song Hong Co., Ltd., US$2 million.

In addition, the former director spent VND5.5 billion (US$224,000) on several individuals within the unit and VND2.59 billion (US$105,000) to provide allowances to its staff and leaders. In total, Thang disbursed more than VND63 billion (US$2.57 million) out of the more than VND88 billion he had received.

The remaining more than VND25 billion (US$1.02 million) could not be sufficiently clarified, and Thang is held responsible for this amount. Of the more than VND88 billion collected from contractors, over VND36 billion (US$1.47 million) came from enterprises under the Ministry of National Defense. The Investigation Police Agency did not handle this portion but transferred the information to the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Ministry of National Defense for processing under its authority.

The investigation conclusion states that by September 2017, after Thang retired, Nguyen Huu Tuan became Deputy Director in charge and later Director of the unit. Tuan continued collecting sums equivalent to 5 percent of the pre-tax advance or payment value from contractors carrying out the 10 construction packages of the two hospital projects.

Through this, Tuan received a total of VND12.17 billion (US$497,000) from three contractors. Investigators determined that Tuan paid Nguyen Thi Kim Tien VND5 billion (US$204,000) and spent VND283.5 million (US$11,600) on allowances for the unit’s staff and leaders.

Investigation documents show that Tuan disbursed more than VND5 billion out of the VND12.17 billion received. The remaining amount could not be fully clarified, and he is held responsible for it. Of the VND12.17 billion, VND4.5 billion (US$184,000) came from a contractor under the Ministry of National Defense. This portion was also transferred to the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Ministry of National Defense for handling.

At the investigation agency, Thang stated that after receiving VND88.465 billion from contractors, he paid Nguyen Thi Kim Tien a total of VND12.9 billion (US$527,000) and US$100,000.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Kim Tien admitted only to receiving VND2.5 billion (US$102,000) from Thang on multiple occasions. A confrontation between Thang and the former minister showed both sides maintained their statements. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien told investigators she did not know the origin of the money given to her and had no agreement with Thang or Tuan regarding giving or receiving money.

Tuan also admitted receiving VND12.17 billion from three contractors, paying Nguyen Thi Kim Tien VND5 billion, spending VND5.89 billion (US$240,000) on the unit’s common activities, and using VND1.28 billion (US$52,000) for personal purposes.

Business executives accused of giving bribes

Investigators clarified the acts of giving bribes by 10 individuals, including deputy general directors, directors, chairpersons of boards of directors of various enterprises and a university lecturer. According to the investigation, these individuals were aware of the violations and agreed to give money at the request of Nguyen Chien Thang.

They proactively submitted denunciations of criminal acts committed by Nguyen Chien Thang and Nguyen Huu Tuan, made sincere declarations, expressed remorse and actively cooperated with investigators to clarify the nature of the case.

Based on legal provisions, the Investigation Police Agency exempted these individuals from criminal liability, confiscated all bribery money for the state budget, and recommended strict Party and administrative disciplinary measures against them.

T. Nhung