On November 25, Hanoi’s investigative police announced their decision to prosecute and arrest Luong (born 1962, resident of Thuong Tin, Hanoi) on charges of accepting bribes.

According to investigators, Luong and other officials at the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry facilitated the release of Bui Thi Thanh Thuy, a mandatory inpatient at the institute, allowing her to leave freely and continue operating a drug trafficking ring involving 60 kilograms of narcotics.

Thuy later admitted she was not mentally ill. She confessed to colluding with the institute’s assessment board - including Luong, who at the time served as deputy director - to obtain a falsified psychiatric evaluation declaring her incapable of understanding or controlling her actions.

Based on this fraudulent conclusion, Thuy was placed under mandatory psychiatric treatment, effectively shielding her from criminal prosecution.

Investigators determined that Luong and members of the evaluation board accepted a bribe of 300 million VND (about USD 12,300) to falsify the diagnosis.

Hanoi police say the investigation is ongoing and that other individuals involved will be handled in accordance with the law.

Tien Dung