As previously reported by VietNamNet, the Investigation Police Agency of Hanoi has completed its investigation and recommended prosecution in a case involving illegal drug possession, organizing illegal drug use, offering bribes, accepting bribes, brokering bribes, abuse of power while performing official duties, falsifying criminal case files, and illegal gambling.

The case centers on the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and several related agencies and localities. Among those recommended for prosecution is Tran Van Truong, former forensic psychiatric examiner and former director of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry.

According to investigators, during his time in office, Truong repeatedly accepted more than VND3 billion (US$115,000) directly from alleged crime boss Nguyen Thi Mai Anh and several others in exchange for issuing psychiatric assessments that did not reflect the actual mental condition of 17 criminal suspects, defendants, and convicted offenders.

Although the individuals were mentally healthy, Truong allegedly concluded that they had lost the ability to recognize or control their behavior, allowing them to be placed under compulsory psychiatric treatment as provided for under Vietnamese law.

Investigators determined that after receiving the money, Truong distributed part of it among other members of the assessment panel while keeping approximately VND2.3 billion (US$88,000) for himself.

Authorities also allege that the former institute director accepted more than VND2.5 billion (US$96,000) from Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai, deputy head of the institute's Organization Department, in exchange for facilitating the recruitment of several individuals to work at the institute.

Beyond those payments, investigators say Truong is also criminally liable for receiving an additional VND278 million (US$10,700) and other assets from Nguyen Thi Mai Anh in return for arranging a private room where she could stay with her two young children and intervening to help several individuals enroll in training programs and transfer departments.

According to investigators, Truong's actions undermined the integrity of the state's management of public-sector recruitment. As a result, the former director is alleged to have committed the offense of accepting bribes.

Two former deputy directors accused of accepting bribes

According to the investigation's conclusions, Lam Van Thanh, a forensic psychiatric examiner and former deputy director of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, is also accused of accepting bribes.

Investigators allege that despite knowing Nguyen Thi Hang and several other suspects did not suffer from mental illness and had full cognitive and behavioral capacity, Thanh still participated in assessment reports declaring that they had "lost the ability to recognize and control their behavior."

In return, Thanh allegedly received VND265 million (US$10,200) from Tran Van Truong and another VND100 million (US$3,800) from Nguyen Thi Mai Anh through an intermediary. Investigators also allege that he helped Mai Anh return to the institute in October 2023 and allowed her two young children to stay there in violation of regulations.

Another former deputy director, Duong Van Luong, has likewise been recommended for prosecution on charges of accepting bribes. Investigators say Luong accepted money and coordinated with members of the assessment panel to conclude that several criminal suspects had "lost the ability to recognize and control their behavior," despite knowing they were mentally healthy.

Those conclusions enabled multiple suspects to be placed under compulsory psychiatric treatment instead of undergoing normal criminal proceedings.

What makes the case particularly troubling is that all three doctors had previously earned numerous commendations from Vietnam's Ministry of Health. Both Tran Van Truong and Lam Van Thanh had also been awarded the honorary title of "Meritorious Physician," one of the country's highest professional distinctions in medicine.

Authorities recommend tighter oversight of forensic psychiatric assessments

During the investigation, Hanoi Police recommended that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant agencies review and address shortcomings and violations in the management and oversight of forensic psychiatric assessments at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, the Northern Mountainous Regional Center for Forensic Psychiatry, and other related institutions.

Investigators also proposed establishing a coordination mechanism involving the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Health, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Supreme People's Court to strengthen implementation of the Criminal Procedure Code's provisions governing forensic psychiatric assessments and compulsory medical treatment.

According to investigators, the proposed mechanism would help close regulatory loopholes, prevent the misuse of psychiatric diagnoses to evade criminal responsibility, and reduce opportunities for individuals under compulsory treatment to escape or continue committing crimes.

T. Nhung