Leaders of the Hanoi Housing Development and Investment Corporation (Handico) on May 15 decided to remove Nguyen Van Thanh from his posts as secretary of the Party Committee and director of Hanoi Construction and Investment Company (Hacinco) No. 2, an affiliate of Hadico, for violating Covid-19 pandemic prevention regulations.

The Center Point Building in Thanh Xuan, where Thanh and his family members living in, is under lockdown. Photo: nhandan.com.vn

This decision was made following the direction of the Hanoi Party Committee and People’s Committee on disciplinary action against Thanh for his violations that cause serious consequences in the community, making many offices and buildings in Hanoi putting under lockdown.

The lockdown, took place at the Center Point Building in Thanh Xuan, and Block C of Ho Guom Plaza and CT7 Booyoung in Ha Dong, has disrupted the living of about 3,100 people in 770 apartments, along with expenses for testing and security services as well as hard working of many people from task forces and medical units.

Nearly 200 people have been reported to be F1, who had direct contact with Thanh from May 2-12. The city has confirmed three of them infected with the novel coronavirus after getting close contact with him.

Hadico said that Thanh's violation is very serious, greatly affecting the city's pandemic prevention and public health, causing frustration in public opinion and reducing the prestige and business activities of the company.

Thanh, 44, is the first leader of a Hanoi company having broken the city’s regulations and smashed the whole system's efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was found to be dishonest in his health declaration when he and his wife returned home from the central beach city of Danang, where is dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak. He and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus several days ago after returning home from Danang. 

According to Lawyer Hoang Trong Giap of Hanoi Bar Association, if Thanh is determined to have committed a crime, he can be prosecuted for criminal liability with a maximum fine of VND200 million (US$8,700) or a prison term of 1-5 years.

He said if the authorities determine that the pandemic spreading act is deadly or causing leaders at all levels to announce the pandemic, the violator will face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.