On 10/9, the Dong Nai City People's Court continued the trial of 42 defendants involved in a case at the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center.

The defendants face charges including bribery, brokering bribery, giving bribes, and abuse of power while performing official duties.

The indictment from the Supreme People's Procuracy states that from 1/2016 to 6/2024, numerous leaders, doctors, and forensic examiners at the two psychiatric forensic facilities allegedly received, gave, or brokered money to influence assessments. The Procuracy identified 29 incidents, resulting in 26 false forensic conclusions, three false medical records, and one improper transfer to a treatment department.

Individuals seeking these favorable conclusions included those under investigation, on trial, or serving sentences for various crimes. Their aim was to be declared having limited or lost cognitive and behavioral control, thereby avoiding, delaying prosecution, or receiving reduced sentences. The case involves two branches at the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and one branch at the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center, which were later merged for joint investigation and prosecution.

Tran Van Thanh, former director of the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center, testified at the court on 10/9. Photo: Pham Hai

'I persuaded, I didn't pressure anyone'

This morning, the court focused on clarifying the bribery acts of Tran Van Thanh, director of the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center, and his accomplices. Thanh is accused of participating in three bribery incidents totaling 330 million VND, from which he personally benefited 278 million VND. One of these cases involved the assessment of Nguyen Trong Hiep, leading to a false psychiatric conclusion.

During the trial, the Procuracy questioned Thanh regarding Nguyen Trong Hiep, a defendant in a gambling and organizing gambling case investigated by the Dak Lak Provincial Police.

When asked if he pressured members of the forensic psychiatric assessment council to issue a favorable conclusion for Hiep, as some other defendants claimed, Thanh denied it.

He stated that all council members had the right to discuss and offer their professional opinions. Thanh admitted to persuading them but maintained that a conclusion was only reached when all members agreed.

Regarding informing the council that someone had requested "help" for Hiep, Thanh testified that while Hiep was at the center, he discussed Ha Ngoc Khanh's request for assistance. Khanh, a doctor at the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, is accused of brokering the favorable conclusion for Hiep. According to Thanh, the council members subsequently agreed to help.

"I admit my wrongdoing and don't blame anyone. I asked if intervention was possible, and they agreed", Thanh explained.

Regarding instructing the examiners, Thanh said he only asked them to "complete the assessment file as usual".

However, the indictment describes this process in more detail.

160 million VND and 'thank you' envelopes

According to the Procuracy, while out on bail, Hiep asked Nguyen Thanh Long, an acquaintance who was later charged with brokering bribery, to arrange a psychiatric conclusion that would qualify him for investigation suspension and mandatory treatment.

From 6/2023 to late 8/2023, Hiep transferred a total of 550 million VND to Long in three installments. Long agreed with Ha Ngoc Khanh on a price of 300 million VND to secure a conclusion that Hiep had lost cognitive and behavioral control, then transferred 150 million VND to Khanh upfront.

After receiving the money, Khanh met Thanh and proposed helping Hiep obtain a conclusion stating he had lost cognitive and behavioral control before, during, and after committing the crime, and at the time of assessment. This was intended to facilitate the suspension of the case and mandatory treatment. Khanh gave Thanh an envelope containing 100 million VND, along with a bottle of wine and sedatives.

The next day, Thanh met Tran Duc Tuoi, an examiner at the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center, and told him that Hiep's case "had been requested for help".

At the council meeting on 15/9/2023, Thanh again announced that someone had "requested help" and expressed his view that Hiep should be concluded as having lost cognitive and behavioral control in a favorable manner.

The indictment states that initially, examiners Tran Duc Tuoi, Tran Nhu Hai, Be Thi Hue, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc all assessed Hiep as having only limited cognitive and behavioral control. They reasoned that Hiep's actions, involving organizing gambling and gambling, indicated calculation.

After Thanh explained that Hiep's actions were not murder and that "a favorable assessment conclusion would not affect anyone", the members no longer objected. The council unanimously concluded that Hiep had lost cognitive and behavioral control.

The indictment further accuses Thanh of subsequently instructing the completion of the medical record to align with the false conclusion. Be Thi Hue modified the assessment report, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc added remarks to the monitoring sheets.

On 15/9/2023, the center issued a conclusion stating that Hiep had lost cognitive and behavioral control before, during, and after committing the crime, and at the time of assessment.

After the conclusion was issued, the indictment states that Thanh directly gave Tran Duc Tuoi an envelope containing 3 million VND, saying it was "thank you" money from Hiep's family.

About two to three days later, Thanh called Nguyen Thi Ngoc to his office and gave her three envelopes, each containing 3 million VND, stating they were "thank you" portions for Ngoc, Be Thi Hue, and Tran Nhu Hai. Ngoc kept one envelope and passed the remaining two to Hai and Hue.

Approximately one month after the conclusion, Ha Ngoc Khanh met Thanh at a cafe near the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and gave him an additional 60 million VND.

In total, the indictment states that Thanh received 160 million VND to issue a false psychiatric assessment conclusion for Nguyen Trong Hiep.

At court, Thanh testified that the amount given to some council members was about 3 million VND each. When the Procuracy asked if he would have paid the members himself if Khanh had not provided the money, Thanh replied "no".

Ha Ngoc Khanh, former official of the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, at court today. Photo: Pham Hai

One defendant, two conclusions of lost cognitive ability

Following the conclusion from the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center, the Dak Lak Provincial People's Procuracy requested a re-assessment of Nguyen Trong Hiep.

On 19/10/2023, the Provincial Police Investigation Agency commissioned the Bien Hoa Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry for a re-assessment. The indictment states that having prepared in advance, Hiep and Nguyen Thanh Long continued to scheme to secure a favorable conclusion to avoid criminal prosecution.

Hiep again transferred a total of 520 million VND to Long in three installments. Long then transferred 300 million VND to Ha Ngoc Khanh to secure the conclusion.

At the Bien Hoa Institute, Khanh subsequently gave money to Le Van Hung, the institute director; Nguyen Thanh Quang, Nguyen Van Trong, Ly Thi Hoai Nam, who were members of the assessment council; and also to nurse Lam Thi Anh Hong to provide favorable conditions for Hiep during his observation period.

At the council meeting on 18/1/2024, the four members who had received money assessed Hiep as having lost cognitive and behavioral control. Nguyen Thi Huyen, a council member who did not receive money, believed Hiep only had limited capacity.

The council then issued a conclusion stating that Hiep had lost cognitive and behavioral control at the time of the offense and at the time of assessment, while also preserving Huyen's differing opinion.

Based on this result, the Dak Lak Provincial Police Investigation Agency separated the case and temporarily suspended the investigation against Hiep but did not recommend mandatory treatment due to disagreement with the assessment result.

In 8/2024, the investigation agency further commissioned the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry of the Ministry of Health for another re-assessment.

The conclusion issued by this agency on 22/4/2025 determined that Nguyen Trong Hiep had sufficient cognitive and behavioral control at the time of committing the crime and at the time of assessment. Hiep's case was subsequently reopened.

Received money in two cases, but conclusions were accurate

Beyond Nguyen Trong Hiep's case, the indictment indicates that Tran Van Thanh received money in two other assessment cases, though the final conclusions in these instances accurately reflected the patients' actual conditions.

In 2020, Dang Thi Bich Cam, a defendant in a case involving illegal detention and public humiliation in Kon Tum, was referred for assessment at the Tay Nguyen Regional Forensic Psychiatry Center.

Hoang Hoan Chinh, who asked Thanh to help Cam, provided 150 million VND, requesting a favorable conclusion.

However, after reviewing the records and observing Cam's severe symptoms, Thanh did not inform the council members about the request for help. The subsequent conclusion was determined by the Procuracy to be consistent with the assessment records and Cam's actual medical condition.

After the conclusion, Thanh distributed money to some individuals involved in Cam's assessment and care, retaining 110 million VND for himself.

The second case involved Ha Thi Dieu Hien, a defendant in a property snatching case in Gia Lai. While Hien was being assessed at the center, Ha Duc Chinh, Hien's father, visited Thanh's office twice to request special attention for his daughter. Each time, he gave 10 million VND, with the second visit also including a bottle of wine.

At court, Thanh testified that the first amount was used for local verification and information gathering, while the remaining amount covered living and dining expenses.

The indictment confirmed that the assessment conclusion for Hien was consistent with the records and her medical condition. However, Thanh did not disclose the 20 million VND he received and kept it for personal benefit.

The court continues to question the remaining defendants, with a verdict expected next week.