Former Health Minister Claims Full Payment of Large Compensation, Seeks Leniency in Appeal

Former Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến was absent from the appeal trial at the Hanoi High People's Court concerning her role in losses and waste of state assets in hospital construction projects. She is reportedly hospitalized at Thống Nhất Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for medical treatment. Ms. Tiến, who received a six-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay 108 billion VND (approximately $4.3 million USD) in compensation by the first instance court, submitted documents through her lawyers indicating the completion of this compensation payment. The court announced that based on the documents submitted by Ms. Tiến and her lawyers, the compensation payment has been finalized. Furthermore, petitions from individuals and organizations requesting a reduced sentence for Ms. Tiến and other defendants have also been submitted. Bạch Mai Hospital and Việt Đức Hospital submitted documents to the court emphasizing the necessity of their second phase construction projects to meet healthcare demands in the northern region and alleviate pressure on their main facilities. Currently, these Ninh Bình province facilities are undergoing construction, and Bạch Mai Hospital's second phase facility began operations at the end of June. Therefore, both hospitals are requesting the court to consider leniency for Ms. Tiến and nine other defendants. Besides Ms. Tiến, Mr. Nguyễn Doãn Tú, Deputy Head of the Medical Equipment and Construction Project Management Department at the Ministry of Health, has also completed his compensation payment of 29 billion VND (approximately $1.1 million USD). Mr. Tú was also absent from court due to illness and is seeking a suspended sentence and a review of his financial obligations. Some defendants, like Mr. Nguyễn Chiến Thắng, former Head of the Ministry of Health's Key Medical Project Management Board, received a first instance sentence of 30 years in prison and was ordered to pay a substantial compensation of 393 billion VND (approximately $15.5 million USD). The trial is scheduled to continue the following day. Source: VnExpress