On September 13, the Supreme People's Procuracy issued an indictment to prosecute former Secretary of the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Nhan Chien and other defendants in the case of "Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences; Giving and receiving bribes; Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties" occurring at the Bac Ninh Department of Health and AIC Company.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan - President of AIC used the oldest trick, which is to bribe and attack the people with the highest positions in the province, who have the power to decide the price of the bid packages. With this trick, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan defeated many secretaries and presidents of the province.
In Bac Ninh province alone, Mr. Nguyen Nhan Chien and three others received bribes from AIC: Nguyen Tu Quynh - Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Hanh Chung - Vice Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Council; Tran Van Tuynh - Director of Bac Ninh Provincial Medical Construction Project Management Board.
Just ask, from the Secretary, Chairman, Vice Chairman of the People's Council of a locality who was bribed, why worry about price manipulation, Ms. Nhan can make waves in the bidding for purchasing medical equipment packages.
Mr. Nguyen Nhan Chien received 4 billion VND from AIC, this is the amount related to the bidding packages, so there is an act of "receiving bribes".
But there is another large sum of money called a "gift". Or giving a so-called "gift" that is not a "bribe". From 2014 to 2020, Mr. Nguyen Nhan Chien was given 10 billion VND by Ms. Nhan on holidays and Tet.
No one would suddenly spend 10 billion VND for an official "innocently". Personal feelings are normal, giving gifts is also normal, but a gift of 10 billion VND is no longer a gift. Without those gifts, would Mr. Nguyen Nhan Chien have directed his subordinates to create conditions for AIC to win the bid at a high price, causing damage to the state?
Accepting a large sum of money as a gift forces you to behave in a way that pleases the giver. Not being able to control your greed is falling into the trap of money, which leads to wrongdoing.
Therefore, the line between gift-giving and bribery is indeed very thin. Officials who are not vigilant with gifts of the "money first" type will inevitably fall into trouble with the law.
