The update was delivered by Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan, Chief of Office and spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, at a press conference held on March 18 by the Central Commission for Internal Affairs. The event announced the outcomes of a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Corruption, Wastefulness and Negativity.

At the briefing, journalists raised questions about the progress of investigations into several high-profile cases, including alleged violations at the second campus projects of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital, the Viet Trung mining and metallurgy company, and the National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, investigators have issued a conclusion of the investigation and proposed prosecuting former health minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien along with nine other defendants.

Nguyen Thi Kim Tien is accused of “violating regulations on the management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste.”

Investigators allege that she, along with Nguyen Chien Thang, Nguyen Kim Trung, Nguyen Huu Tuan, Dao Xuan Sinh and others, committed violations throughout the case, resulting in losses of more than VND803 billion (US$33 million) in state assets.

Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan said that as of February 27, the investigative police agency under the Ministry of Public Security had completed its investigation into the case involving the second campus projects of Bach Mai and Viet Duc hospitals.

Authorities have proposed prosecuting 10 defendants on three charges: violating regulations on the management and use of state assets causing loss and waste; fraud; and accepting bribes.

Regarding the case at Viet Trung Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd., the ministry has initiated legal proceedings and charged eight defendants with three offenses: violating regulations on the management and use of state assets causing loss and waste; giving bribes; and accepting bribes. Investigators have so far recovered VND15 billion (US$615,000) and seized one apartment.

In the case involving the National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and related units and localities, Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan said that investigators from the Hanoi Police Department have prosecuted 65 defendants.

They face multiple charges, including illegal drug possession, organizing illegal drug use, giving and receiving bribes, brokering bribery, abuse of power in the performance of official duties, falsifying case records and gambling.

“This case involves a very large number of defendants with multiple charges, and authorities have recovered more than VND10 billion (US$410,000) in cash, nearly US$60,000 and various real estate and other valuable assets,” the spokesperson said.

Thu Hang