As previously reported by VietNamNet, the investigative body of the Supreme People’s Procuracy has completed its investigation and proposed prosecuting 33 defendants involved in the case at the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry (under the Ministry of Health, located in Dong Nai Province).

Later, the Supreme People’s Procuracy ordered a supplementary investigation to clarify certain details, including a review of actions by judicial agencies regarding cases where investigations were suspended, where no criminal penalties applied, where mitigating circumstances were used, or where mandatory treatment periods were deducted from sentences.

The supplementary investigation conclusion by the Supreme People’s Procuracy’s investigation agency stated that, in an attempt to exploit policies exempting or reducing criminal liability for those with mental illnesses, violators of the law colluded with some leaders and doctors at the Bien Hoa Forensic Psychiatric Institute to produce false psychiatric evaluation conclusions.

The investigation agency determined that the defendants had coordinated to commit the offenses.

Paying for mental illness certification

The supplementary investigation revealed that Tieu Duy Dung (born 1983, Dien Hong ward, Gia Lai) was prosecuted for “murder” and “illegal use of military weapons.” Based on requests from Dung’s relatives and his medical records, in March 2020, the former Gia Lai province police issued a decision for a psychiatric evaluation of Dung at the Bien Hoa Forensic Institute.

In April 2020, the Bien Hoa Forensic Institute assigned Bui The Hung (then director) to chair, Nguyen Thanh Quang (former department head) as secretary, along with three other evaluators, including Le Van Hung, to conduct the evaluation.

Le Van Hung received VND30 million from a woman claiming to be Dung’s wife to secure a psychiatric evaluation concluding Dung lacked cognitive and behavioral control.

After receiving the money, Le Van Hung distributed VND3-10 million to each doctor and evaluator on the panel, giving Bui The Hung VND10 million. 

The institute’s psychiatric evaluation concluded: “At the time of the crime, Dung had limited cognitive and behavioral control; currently, he lacks cognitive and behavioral control.”

Based on this conclusion, at the appellate hearing on June 30, 2025, by the High People’s Court in Da Nang, Dung received mitigating circumstances for criminal liability.

In July 2025, the Supreme People’s Procuracy’s investigation agency sent a letter to the Prosecution and Criminal Trial Supervision Department, recommending the review of the mitigating circumstances applied to Tieu Duy Dung.

Another case in the supplementary investigation involved Tong Thi Bach Lan (born 1974, HCMC), sentenced to 15 years in prison in August 2028 for “illegal drug trafficking.”

In June 2019, the High People’s Court in HCMC requested a psychiatric evaluation for Lan at the Bien Hoa Forensic Institute. The institute assigned Bui The Hung to chair, Le Van Hung as secretary, and three other evaluators to carry out the examinations.

While Lan was admitted to the institute, Tong My Hang (Lan’s cousin) and Lan’s mother, Tong Thi Phuoc, visited Lan. Phuoc asked Hang to give evaluator Nguyen Thanh Quang VND20 million to secure a favorable evaluation for Lan’s trial.

When receiving the VND20 million, Quang asked Hang, “How many years is Lan serving?” Hang replied, “15 years.” Quang responded, “Alright, go now.” He then distributed VND3-5 million to each examiner on the panel.

Later, in the psychiatric report dated July 22, 2020, Lan was diagnosed as: "Having limited awareness and self-control at the time of the offense; currently incapable of awareness and self-control."

According to Lan’s own testimony, she did not know whether she actually had any mental illness, did not ask for assistance in the evaluation process, and was unaware of her family’s actions.

Investigators concluded that Phuoc showed signs of bribery as a co-conspirator. However, because she passed away in 2023, no legal action will be taken against her.

T. Nhung