Former HCMC hospital director gets 21-year imprisonment for embezzlement

Former director of Ho Chi Minh City-based Thu Duc Hospital Nguyen Minh Quan, 50, was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Friday for embezzling VND102.5 billion ($4.22 million) in a bidding and money laundering scam.

The HCMC People’s Court also sentenced Nguyen Van Loi, 37, director of Nguyen Tam Production and Trade Co., Ltd., to 15 years’ imprisonment for the same charges.

Five other former employees of the hospital received prison terms for "violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences".

Accordingly, former deputy director Nguyen Thi Ngoc received two years and six months in jail; former deputy director Nguyen Lan Anh, three years and six months; Ngo Truong Ngoc Bich, former head of the medical equipment and supplies department, three years and six months; Nguyen Huy Viet, former staff of the materials department, three years; and former chief accountant Dang Thi Hien, three years and six months.

In addition, Tran Hau Nghia, director of Hai Dang Medical Equipment Supply Co., Ltd., was sentenced to three years in prison; and director of Ngoc Dao Co., Ltd. Nguyen Tran Ngoc Diem, Quan's wife, got three years’ probation, for "money laundering".

The court also banned Quan, Ngoc, Bich, Anh and Hien from holding management positions related to bidding for 2-5 years.

The jury oredered Quan to return the VND102.5 billion ($4.22 million) he had appropriated to the state coffers. So far, he has paid VND4 billion.

According to the jury, Quan directed Loi to establish four "backyard" companies to bid for medical equipment supply packages.

Between 2016 and 2020, Quan helped Loi’s companies to win 27 bids worth a total of VND345 billion ($14.2 million). This figure was between 30-50% higher than what Thu Duc Hospital should have paid for the supplies.

Loi then transferred VND102.5 billion as the difference to Quan and his wife in return for their help.

Ngoc, Anh, Bich, Viet and Hien, despite their knowledge of Quan’s violations, did not report them.