Beware of scams involving "fixing court cases" and misappropriating assets.

Countless scams

On March 18, 2022, the Dien Chau District Police announced that they had issued a decision to prosecute Hoang Ngoc Hanh, born in 1996, residing in Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district, for the crime of fraud and appropriation of property.

According to initial investigation results,Despite her bad reputation and lack of a stable job, Hanh still promised to know some people who could help her find a job.evading prosecutionThey used the "hanging" tactic to defraud and misappropriate 450 million VND. Specifically,On May 28, 2021, Ms. NTX, born in 1979, residing in Quynh Chau commune (Quynh Luu district), was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment by the Quynh Luu District People's Court for gambling. However, Ms. X. wished for a reduced sentence and filed an appeal with the Nghe An Provincial People's Court.

Police officers from Dien Chau district are taking statements from suspect Hoang Ngoc Hanh. (Photo: Hong Ngoc)

While awaiting the appeal trial, through her connections, Ms. X contacted Hanh to ask for help in "fixing the case." Hanh instructed Ms. X to file a request for a postponement of the trial and promised to know some people who could arrange for a "suspended sentence," while also promising to return the money if she failed to do so. On October 22, 2021, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court held an appeal trial in absentia for Ms. X, imposing the same sentence as the initial trial. That same evening, Hanh called Ms. X to inform her that she had successfully "fixed the case" and that the prison sentence had been applied but with a suspended sentence.

Documents written by Hoang Ngoc Hanh to gain the trust of Ms. X. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Trusting Hanh, Ms. X transferred 450 million VND to her. However, Hanh used the money for personal expenses. On November 19, 2021, Ms. X received notification of her prison sentence and only then realized she had been scammed. Afterward, Ms. X repeatedly contacted Hoang Ngoc Hanh to demand the return of the money, but Hanh cut off contact and fled to southern provinces (from November 2021). On March 15, 2022, when Hanh returned to the area, she was arrested by the police.

Also in March 2022, the Criminal Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police issued a temporary detention order against Nguyen Thi Lien (born in 1973), residing in Do Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, to investigate and clarify her actions of "fraudulent appropriation of property"..Previously, through intelligence gathering, the Criminal Police Department of the Provincial Police discovered that Lien regularly sought information on media channels about cases that had been cracked down on by the police or land disputes involving civil lawsuits in order to approach victims.

Nguyen Thi Lien at the police station. Photo courtesy of Hong Ngoc.

After approaching the victims, Lien introduced herself as someone who knew many high-ranking officials in the field of litigation and the court system, capable of "fixing" cases for defendants to be released on bail or receive suspended sentences, helping them win civil cases. Along with the agreement, the victims had to pay hundreds of millions of dong. Using this tactic, in late September 2021, Lien approached and deceived Vo Thi N. (born in 1993), residing in Yen Thanh district, who had been sentenced to 5 years in prison by the Yen Thanh District People's Court for illegally possessing narcotics (currently out on bail awaiting execution because she was raising a young child). She promised to help N. reduce her sentence from 5 years to 2 years, thereby appropriating 300 million dong from N.

However, in February 2022, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court upheld the 5-year sentence for Vo Thi N. in the appellate trial. Knowing she could not fulfill the work she had initially promised the victim, Lien fled.

To gain the trust of their victims, many perpetrators impersonate police officers, claiming to have extensive connections and the ability to easily influence law enforcement agencies to "reduce sentences." A typical example is Nguyen Van Huan (born in 1982), residing in Nam Hung commune, Nam Dan district, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for fraud by the Nghe An Provincial People's Court in July 2021.

The indictment states: Around November 2020, through social connections, Huan learned that Ms. Tran Thi K. (residing in Dien Chau district) intended to ask for her husband, a defendant in the case of "Illegal transportation of goods across the border" and "Transportation of prohibited goods," to not be prosecuted.

Defendant Nguyen Van Huan. Photo courtesy of Tran Vu.

After exchanging phone calls, Huan arranged to meet Ms. K. at a cafe in Vinh City. Upon meeting Ms. K., Huan impersonated Huy, claiming to be an officer from the Criminal Police Department of Nghe An Province, and assured her that he could secure a solution for her husband. Before leaving, Huan told Ms. K. to prepare money to cover the "case-fixing" procedures. From November 2020 to the end of December 2020 (lunar calendar), Huan demanded 260 million VND from Ms. K. six times. After waiting for some time and seeing that Huan could not fulfill his promise, Ms. K. requested a refund. Initially, Huan only returned 70 million VND. After repeated pressure, Huan went to Ms. K.'s house and returned 190 million VND, but asked for 20 million VND for travel expenses, which Ms. K.'s relatives agreed to.

On February 22, 2021, Ms. K. filed a complaint with the investigative agency regarding Nguyen Van Huan's fraudulent activities. During questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police, Huan confessed to his crime and voluntarily surrendered 10 million VND.

Similarly to Huấn's actions, at 7:30 AM on May 14, 2020, at a coffee shop on Quang Trung Street, Vinh City Police caught Nguyễn Kiên Trung, born in 1985, residing in Block 7, Bến Thủy Ward, Vinh City, red-handed receiving money from Ms. Hoàng Thị G. (born in 1993), residing in Diễn Châu District, to help her relative avoid prosecution. The seized items included 25 million VND, a mobile phone, and a car. This individual is unemployed and was formerly a border guard officer in Hà Tĩnh, but was discharged from service due to debt.

The suspect Nguyen Kien Trung at the investigative agency. Photo: Duc Vu.

To deceive the victim, Trung frequently boasted, claiming to be a police officer with many connections, and therefore able to easily influence law enforcement agencies to "arrange a reduced sentence." Knowing that Ms. G's brother was being prosecuted and detained by the Vinh City Police for illegally possessing narcotics, Trung promised to help secure bail and a reduced sentence for her brother. Trusting him after several meetings, Ms. G transferred money to Trung in person and via bank account, totaling 229 million VND. However, by early May 2020, seeing that her brother had still not been released, Ms. G filed a complaint with the Vinh City Police.

After verifying the information, the Vinh City Police established a special task force, concentrating their efforts to quickly apprehend the suspect, avoiding any negative impact on the reputation and image of the People's Police force.

How is the act of "bribing to influence court decisions" punished??

Despite legal regulations, committing fraud and accepting money under the pretext of "fixing legal cases" is a violation of the law and will be severely punished. Depending on the nature and purpose of the act, the offender will be held criminally responsible according to the law.

If the person engaging in the act of influencing court cases does not hold any official position or authority, they may be prosecuted for the crime of fraud and misappropriation of property as stipulated in Article 174 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended in 2017. This is because, in reality, this person lacks the authority to intervene and change the charges or sentencing to benefit the accused, yet still accepts money in order to misappropriate the property of others. The maximum penalty in this case could be life imprisonment. In addition, they may be fined from VND 10,000,000 to VND 100,000,000 or have part or all of their assets confiscated.

Evidence from a criminal case. Photo courtesy of Duc Vu.

Image for illustration purposes only (from the internet).

However, not only those who facilitate the bribing of the court are held criminally responsible, but those who offer bribes can also face imprisonment. Therefore, every citizen needs to raise their legal awareness to avoid losing money and suffering harm, and to prevent falling into actions that abet criminals.