On 25/8, the Hue Region 1 People's Court sentenced Thai Thi Hong Van (52), former judge of Hue City People's Court, to 4 years and 6 months in prison for bribery. Tran Nhon Vuong (62), former Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Hue City People's Procuracy, received 2 years and 6 months in prison. Tran Xuan Phu (44), a former prosecutor, was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence.

Tran Anh Tu (46), a former driver for Hue Region 4 People's Court, received 2 years in prison for brokering bribes.

The defendants at the trial. Photo: Van An

The case originated from an organized gambling and gambling incident at an apartment in early 2024. According to the indictment, during the case resolution, defendant Vuong, then Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Hue City People's Procuracy, repeatedly received a total of 360 million VND. This was to influence the outcome for Le Thi Vui, Vo Huyen Linh Phuong, and several other defendants, allowing them to be released on bail, reducing their gambling fines, and recommending monetary penalties for one defendant. Defendant Phu, then a prosecutor at Hue City People's Procuracy, received 30 million VND to help Le Thi Vui expedite the case resolution.

Regarding Van, the indictment stated that the female judge agreed to accept 500 million VND to sentence Le Thi Vui to a monetary penalty instead of a prison sentence. Driver Tran Anh Tu brokered the 500 million VND payment between a related party and Van to ensure Vui received a monetary penalty.

After the agreement was finalized, at the organized gambling and gambling trial on 21/8/2025, Van, then the presiding judge, fined Le Thi Vui 100 million VND and Vo Huyen Linh Phuong 70 million VND.

Vo Thanh