Hanoi (VNA) – The Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes (C03) announced on July 7 that it has launched legal proceedings against five individials involving the construction of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Friendship Hospital’s second facilities.

Accordingly, the involved individuals include Dao Xuan Sinh, Director of SHT Vietnam Investment, Construction and Consulting JSC; Tran Van Sinh, head of the cost estimation and technical department of the management board of key health projects under the Ministry of Health; Nguyen Huu Tuan, former Deputy Director of the management board; Nguyen Chien Thang, former Director of the management board; and Nguyen Kim Trung, former Deputy Director of the management board. They are all charged with “violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing losses and waste” under Article 219 of the Penal Code.

According to a representative of C03, the defendants’ actions caused losses totalling 80 billion VND (over 3 million USD) and led to a waste of 762 billion VND. The department is expanding the investigation to clarify violations and ensure thorough handling of the case.

Previously, the Government Inspectorate found numerous violations during the construction of the hospitals’ second facilities in Ninh Binh province. These violations involved bidding, construction, and other related regulations across almost all stages of the projects. As a result, both projects were delayed by over seven years, underwent two extensions, and ultimately failed to meet their intended goals. The projects were deemed inefficient and caused big waste.

The violations involved the proposal and approval processes for hiring foreign consultants and making architectural design and project investment plans. The preparation and approval of the investment projects lacked essential details or had limitations, resulting in immediate changes and adjustments after contract signing, leading to an increase of approximately 503 billion VND in advance payments, posing a high risk of waste.

Regarding the selection of consulting, construction, and medical equipment contractors, the inspection agency concluded that numerous violations occurred across stages. Notably, four consulting service packages were found to have intentionally breached bidding regulations. One medical equipment procurement package also violated procedures in preparing, appraising, and approving bidding documen🍸ts as well as in contract negotiation./.