The Supreme People's Procuracy's investigation agency highlighted Vo Thi Thanh Mai's actions in its investigative conclusion of the case at the Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute, recommending prosecution of 33 defendants.

Among the 8 people accused of bribery and abuse of power are former leaders of the Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute, including Le Van Hung and Bui The Hung (both former directors), Nguyen Thanh Cong and Nguyen Huu Ty (both former deputy directors). In addition, 7 other defendants are facing charges of bribery.

According to the investigation, family members of defendants in other cases, including Vo Thi Thanh Mai, approached or used intermediaries to bribe leaders, doctors, and nurses of the psychiatric assessment council with sums ranging from 20 million to 700 million VND. Their aim was to secure falsified assessment conclusions from the Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute to evade or reduce sentences.

Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

In the Alibaba case, Mai was identified as an accomplice who actively assisted her husband in defrauding over 4,500 customers of more than 2,466 billion VND. Mai and her brother-in-law were also involved in money laundering, knowingly handling nearly 13 billion VND of illicit funds from the company's savings account. They attempted to withdraw and transfer this money after Luyen's arrest.

Although not suffering from any mental illness, Mai sought a reduced sentence by spending 80 million VND on a fabricated psychiatric diagnosis. She contacted Nguyen Thi Kieu Mong Loan to create a false medical record. Loan then gave 70 million VND to Cao Tri Trung, a patient undergoing mandatory treatment at the institute, to facilitate the process.

Trung subsequently contacted and gave 70 million VND to Vo Duc Duong, a nurse at the institute, to create the fake record for Mai. Upon receiving the money, Duong gave 50 million VND to doctor Nguyen Thanh Quang to fabricate Mai's hospitalization and treatment records.

At the appellate trial on 19/5/2023, the High-Level People's Court of TP HCM sentenced Mai to 23 years in prison for fraud and money laundering. This sentence was reduced by 7 years compared to the initial ruling, based on her admission of guilt and the restitution of 12 billion VND.

Thanh Mai at the appellate trial in 2023. Photo: Hai Duyen

Thanh Mai at the appellate trial in 2023. Photo: Hai Duyen

The investigation agency of the Supreme People's Procuracy found that 23 assessment councils at the Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute issued 23 false conclusions about the mental health of 22 individuals in criminal cases across southern provinces. Additionally, the defendants accepted bribes to fabricate three false psychiatric records.

These fabricated assessments claimed the individuals "suffered from impaired or limited cognitive ability and behavioral control at the time of the offense." This allowed the defendants to receive mandatory treatment, reducing their prison sentences, suspending their cases, or receiving lighter penalties.

According to the Supreme People's Procuracy, Bui The Hung (director from 2015 to 4/2022) participated in 20 assessment councils, presiding over and issuing false conclusions in exchange for nearly 1.5 billion VND in bribes. Le Van Hung (director from 5/2022 to 5/2024) participated in 16 councils, issuing false conclusions for almost 1.7 billion VND. Other defendants received bribes ranging from tens to hundreds of millions of VND.

The Bien Hoa Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute, a public health institution under the Ministry of Health, was established in 2015 by upgrading the Southern Branch of the Central Psychiatric Forensic Institute. The institute conducts psychiatric forensic assessments and manages the treatment of individuals with mental disorders under court-ordered compulsory treatment.

Phuoc Tuan