Legal proceedings launched against former deputy chief of HCMC planning and investment dept

Legal proceedings have been initiated against Tran Thi Binh Minh, former deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Planning and Investment, for “abusing positions and power while on duty”.

Specifically, Binh has been accused of creating conditions for AIC Group to raise the price of a bidding package at the HCMC Biotechnology Center.

The Supreme People’s Procuracy has issued an indictment for “violating bidding regulations, giving bribes, accepting bribes and taking advantage of positions while on duty” that occurred at the HCMC Department of Planning and Investment, AIC Group, and HCMC Biotechnology Center.

Accordingly, legal proceedings were launched against Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, former chairwoman of AIC Group; Tran Manh Ha, deputy general director of the company; and Tran Dang Tan, chief representative of the company in HCMC, for “giving bribes”, “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”, and “abusing positions and powers while on duty”.

Duong Hoa Xo, former director of HCMC Biotechnology Center, has been subject to legal proceedings for “receiving bribes”.

Legal proceedings have also been initiated against Tran Thi Binh Minh, former deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Planning and Investment, and Phan Tat Thang, former deputy head of a division at the department, for “abusing positions and power while on duty”.

Ohers subject to legal proceedings for “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences” are staff at the HCMC Biotechnology Center, AISC Auditing Company, HCMC Institute of Construction and Business Administration, SEAAC appraisal company, and the Department of Planning and Investment.

According to the indictment, in 2014, HCMC Biotechnology Center was allowed to approve a plan to select a contractor to supply project equipment for phase 1 worth VND149 billion ($5.85 million), phase 2 worth about VND200 billion, and phase 3 worth more than VND75 billion.

Knowing that HCMC Biotechnology Center was implementing a 12-laboratory project, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan asked Duong Hoa Xo to allow AIC Group to participate, create conditions for the company to win the bid, and define a price based on which AIC gained a sum equivalent to 40% of the bidding package value.

During the implementation process, the alleged violators colluded with Hong Ha Consulting Company and other firms appointed by AIC Group to prepare bidding documents in favor of AIC.

Thanks to that, AIC and Mopha Company (part of the AIC ecosystem) won six bidding packages. The companies designated by AIC, including Gene Viet Company, Viet A Company, Vimedimex Company, won three bidding packages.

As a result of the bidding, AIC and the companies designated by AIC won six bidding packages totally worth VND305.4 billion, causing VND83.1 billion ($3.26 million) of losses to the State.

After being helped to win the bid, Tran Manh Ha gave Tran Thi Binh Minh VND900 million ($35,300) and Duong Hoa Xo VND1 billion. The total amount of illegal gains made by the former deputy director of HCMC's Department of Planning and Investment is estimated at VND1.9 billion ($75,600). Duong Hoa Xo received gifts worth more than VND14 billion.

Currently, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, Tran Manh Ha, Tran Dang Tan, and Do Van Truong are in hiding, making it difficult to solve the case.