Da Nang chairman reprimanded for mismanagement of medical deals

The commission announced Thursday that it had also issued reprimands to: the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Da Nang People’s Committee during the 2016-2021 and the 2021-2026 terms; Huynh Duc Tho, former Da Nang chairman; Ho Ky Minh, deputy standing chairman of Da Nang; Tran Van Mien, former deputy chairman of Da Nang; and Nguyen Van Phung, director of Da Nang’s Department of Finance.

Ngo Thi Kim Yen, deputy chairwoman of Da Nang, received a warning.

Ton That Thanh, director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control (CDC), was expelled from the Party. Thanh was arrested in June to be investigated for embezzlement.

The commission said the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Da Nang People’s Committee had committed certain violations and was negligent in its management, allowing the municipal People’s Committee and certain individuals and organizations to violate Party regulations and the law regarding the sale, management and use of biological products, chemicals and medical equipment; allowing certain criminal cases at the Da Nang CDC.

The violations posed the risk of losses to the national budget, triggering public unrest and affecting the reputation of city authorities, the commission said.

Da Nang police had said in June that from 2020 to 2021, Ton That Thanh and his accomplices conspired with the Viet A firm to embezzle funds in the purchase of Covid-19 test kits by Da Nang to fight the pandemic.

An initial investigation revealed that the value of assets embezzled totaled over VND4 billion (US$163,000).

There are four levels of disciplinary actions for Party members: reprimand, warning, demotion and expulsion.