Former Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry Director Tran Van Truong has admitted that the majority of his substantial assets, including cash, gold, and savings, were acquired through criminal activities. This confession came during his ongoing trial at the Hanoi People's Court, where he faces charges related to bribery and abuse of power.

Truong stands accused of receiving 4,7 billion dong for falsifying psychiatric evaluations for 27 defendants. These fraudulent assessments allowed individuals to undergo compulsory treatment, effectively reducing their prison sentences. He also allegedly took over 3,3 billion dong to facilitate the recruitment of "acquaintances" of defendant Mai Anh and her husband, and enabled the couple to live freely, use drugs, and leave the institute for vacations at will. According to the indictment, each of the 27 cases, which transformed normal individuals into psychiatric patients deemed "incapable of perception and controlling their behavior", incurred a fee of 50-300 million dong. Truong typically received these payments directly from Mai Anh or the defendants' relatives, often at his home, distributing 20-40% of the funds to members of the Assessment Council.

Investigators seized significant assets from Truong's residence: a carton containing 4,579 billion dong in cash, 5 savings accounts worth 3,412 billion dong, 6 savings accounts totaling 55,294 USD, and 8 land use rights certificates. When questioned by the Procuracy about his income, Truong claimed his personal earnings exceeded 1 billion dong annually, with his and his wife's combined income surpassing 1,7 billion dong. He asserted that one 1 billion dong savings account belonged to him and his wife, and the 55,000 USD was a loan from his wife's parents. Regarding the land certificates, he stated that four plots were acquired through savings, one was his wife's dowry registered solely in his wife's name, and another was registered in their names for "good luck" at his wife's parents' request. He noted these transactions with his in-laws were direct, without supporting documentation.

Truong's wife, Dang Thi Hoa, 36, an officer in the Training Department of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, is also on trial. The Procuracy has recommended a sentence of 8-9 years for Hoa and a 20-year sentence for Truong for receiving bribes. During her self-defense this afternoon, Hoa described her family's difficult situation, with both parents arrested and their two young children being cared for by grandparents since her detention 15 months ago, when her second child was just over 3. She pleaded for leniency, hoping to return home soon to care for her children and elderly parents, as her husband faces a longer sentence.

Hoa is accused of receiving 100 million dong from Nguyen Thi Mai Anh and 198 million dong from Mai Anh for facilitating special accommodations for Mai Anh and her children at the Compulsory Treatment Department for Women. Additionally, Mai Anh allegedly gifted Hoa a motorbike worth 51,5 million dong and a 3-wheel motorbike worth 28,5 million dong. The total amount Hoa is criminally responsible for is 378 million dong, and the Procuracy has called for the confiscation of the two motorbikes. Hoa's lawyer, while not disputing the charges, sought a reduced sentence. The lawyer argued that many seized assets, though joint, included contributions from relatives. For instance, of the 5 savings accounts worth 3,4 billion dong, only 1 billion dong belonged to the couple, with the rest borrowed from Hoa's parents. Similarly, the 6 savings accounts totaling 55,000 USD were reportedly borrowed by the couple from Hoa's parents to demonstrate assets for a planned trip to Germany in late 2025. The two seized land certificates, registered in the couple's names, were also claimed to belong to Hoa's parents, who had invested money with Truong due to his position and connections. The lawyer requested the court to consider returning these assets to the family.

Former director of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Tran Van Truong, 53 years old. Photo: Danh Lam

The trial is currently in the deliberation phase.

Thanh Lam - Pham Du