The Hanoi Police Investigation Agency concluded its investigation into Tran Van Truong, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, and his wife, Dang Thi Hoa. The agency proposed prosecuting them for receiving bribes.

In the same case, 55 other individuals, including numerous doctors, nurses, police officers, and prosecutors, face charges for various offenses: giving bribes, receiving bribes, brokering bribes, abusing positions and power while performing public duties, falsifying case files, gambling, and illegal possession and use of narcotics.

=>> List of 57 defendants

Nguyen Thi Mai Anh and Le Van Dong, a married couple, are identified as key defendants whose activities spanned the entire case.

Mai Anh has seven previous convictions and offenses; Dong has 13 previous convictions and offenses. Photo: Police provided

According to the investigation findings, Mai Anh faced prosecution and detention orders from multiple legal agencies for various crimes. Despite this, she showed no remorse, continuing to lead numerous criminal activities. During her compulsory psychiatric treatment, Mai Anh bribed several officials and staff members in various departments and rooms of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry.

Director's wife "chided" Mai Anh for four missing banknotes in bribe

While on the run from the Institute in April 2023, Mai Anh and her husband committed a public disturbance offense, leading to their prosecution. Fearing arrest, she sought to return to the Institute for "shelter."

At that time, Tran Van Truong served as the director. Mai Anh approached Dang Thi Hoa, Mr. Truong's wife, who worked in the Department of Scientific Research and Referral, asking her to intervene and secure a private treatment room. She also requested to bring her two young children and two caregivers to live with her.

Mr. Truong expressed concern, stating that children living with psychiatric patients could be harmed due to uncontrolled behavior. He also noted that arranging for children to reside with patients fell under the Ministry of Health's authority, requiring an official request for approval. Mr. Truong worried this was "unprecedented," fearing scrutiny and opposition from the Institute's leadership.

When Ms. Hoa recounted this to Mai Anh, she claimed she would "take care of the remaining two deputy directors" of the Institute.

At 11:10 PM on 3/9/2023, Mai Anh transferred 100 million Vietnamese dong to Ms. Hoa's account with the description "payment." After receiving the money, Ms. Hoa sent a text message to confirm. Additionally, over ten days later, the director's wife borrowed 2,4 billion Vietnamese dong from Mai Anh and transferred it to the scammer.

On the evening of 18/9/2023, Mai Anh visited Mr. Truong's home for a private conversation, requesting to stay in a private room with her two young children and caregiver. As she left, she left a gift package. Ms. Hoa opened it and found 198 million Vietnamese dong. The next morning, Ms. Hoa messaged Mai Anh: "You were missing four banknotes yesterday."

For Deputy Director Lam Van Thanh, Mai Anh asked Nguyen Duc Hinh, an employee of the Infection Control Department, to arrange a bribe. On 19/9/2023, Hinh placed 100 million Vietnamese dong into a black nylon bag and left it under the pillow at the foot of Mr. Thanh's bed in his bedroom. After Hinh left, Mr. Thanh discovered the 100 million Vietnamese dong.

In October 2023, after Mai Anh's family brought her back to the Institute for compulsory treatment, the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry sent a formal notice to the Procuracy and police. While awaiting guidance from the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health, Mr. Truong and Mr. Thanh jointly agreed to allow Mai Anh to stay in a private room with her two young children and two caregivers.

In July 2024, at the request of the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Institute of Forensic Psychiatry handed Mai Anh's two children over to her family for resolution.

Director Tran Van Truong. Photo: Ministry of Health

Bribing the director's wife with electric bikes

According to allegations, Mai Anh also interfered in the Institute's internal affairs to ensure that officials and staff close to her were included in leadership planning for departments and rooms. Some familiar doctors and nurses were "arranged for" training and professional development programs.

Around April 2024, Mai Anh approached Ms. Hoa, asking for her help to enable four close employees of the Institute – Le Thi Thanh Huong, Vu Tat Dat, Do Ngoc Tu, and Tran Dai Quan – to attend a nursing certificate course. Ms. Hoa then leveraged her husband's influence, successfully registering the four individuals for an online evening course, thus avoiding the need to report to the Institute's Human Resources Department.

Additionally, Mai Anh asked Ms. Hoa to arrange for Nguyen Van Quang and Tran Quoc An to transfer from the Examination and Paraclinical Department to the Male Compulsory Treatment Department. She also requested that Nguyen Thi Minh Quyen, Quang's wife, transfer from the Male Compulsory Treatment Department to the Female Compulsory Treatment Department, as spouses were not permitted to work in the same department.

Agreeing, Ms. Hoa informed her husband that Mai Anh had requested the department transfers for three Institute employees. On 2/5/2024, An, Quang, and Quyen were transferred as requested.

In exchange for these favors, Mai Anh purchased an electric motorbike for 51,5 million Vietnamese dong. The registration contract was in Ms. Hoa's name, and the vehicle was delivered.

Sometime later, Mai Anh again contacted Ms. Hoa, offering to "thank" her with a three-wheeled electric bike. Ms. Hoa agreed, sending a message with an image of a three-wheeled electric bike priced at 28,5 million Vietnamese dong, which Mai Anh then transferred to the store owner. The electric bike was delivered to Ms. Hoa's home.

At the investigation agency, the transferred individuals stated they had not made any requests or offered any benefits to Mai Anh or Ms. Hoa. Mai Anh claimed she was aware of the Institute's staff rotation policy and arranged An's transfer because he was distracted, hoping it would help him focus on his work.

Quan stated that Mai Anh asked him to deliver two iPhone 16 Pro Max phones to Mr. Truong in his private office. This matter was separated by authorities for further investigation and clarification.

Some defendants in the case. Photo: Police provided

Drug party at the beach

After returning to the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry on 16/10/2023, Mai Anh allegedly bribed Institute leaders multiple times to secure a private treatment room with air conditioning and a refrigerator, then brought her two young children and caregiver to live with her. Leveraging his wife's influence, Dong also arranged for his close associates to use narcotics within the Institute's compulsory treatment rooms.

Around May 2025, the Male Compulsory Treatment Department of the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry organized a three-day vacation for staff, employees, and their families at Sam Son beach in Thanh Hoa province. Seeing this, Mai Anh also arranged for her family, caregiver, and associates to go there.

Before leaving, Dong instructed his associates to carry pre-purchased narcotics, a DJ table, and five medium-sized speakers. On the evening of 7/6/2025, Dong and his wife, along with some associates and Institute staff, including a nurse couple, were caught by police using liquid ecstasy and marijuana on the beach.

At both the Male and Female Compulsory Treatment Departments, Mai Anh repeatedly bribed a total of 26 individuals, from department heads to nurses, and also bribed the Institute's general operational leadership, to secure private treatment rooms and department transfers.