Can someone who finds a large sum of money and intentionally refuses to return it be sentenced to prison?
(Baonghean.vn) - I found a handbag on the side of the road. Upon checking, I found 30,200,000 VND and an identity card inside. I took the bag home and used some of the money. I would like to ask if I committed the crime of unlawful possession of property by doing so?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu (Thanh Chuong district) is interested in the following specific situation:I am 22 years old. A week ago, on my way home from work, I found a handbag on the side of the road at the entrance to my house. Inside, I found 30,200,000 VND and an identity card. I took the bag home and used a small amount of the money. Five days later, someone contacted me claiming to be the owner of the money, but the name on the identity card wasn't mine, and they asked me to return it. I didn't know who they were and didn't really believe them, so I didn't return it. They called back, but I didn't answer. I would like to ask if I committed the crime of unlawful possession of property by doing so?
ReplyAccording to the information you provided, you found 30,200,000 VND, and someone claimed ownership of the money. Although you didn't believe them, you didn't confirm it, and you didn't want to return it to the rightful owner. Your actions constitute the "Crime of Unlawful Possession of Property" as stipulated in Article 176 of the 2015 Penal Code and the 2017 Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Penal Code, with the following penalties:
1. Any person who intentionally fails to return to the owner, legal manager, or hand over to the responsible authority property valued from VND 10,000,000 to less than VND 200,000,000, relics, antiques, or objects of historical or cultural value that were mistakenly given to them or that they found or seized, after the owner, legal manager, or responsible authority has requested the return of such property in accordance with the law, shall be fined from VND 10,000,000 to VND 50,000,000, sentenced to non-custodial correctional labor for up to 2 years, or imprisoned from 3 months to 2 years.
2. Committing the crime of seizing property valued at 200,000,000 VND or more, or national treasures, shall be punishable by imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
Therefore, with the amount of money you found being 30,200,000 VND and your deliberate refusal to return it, you will be prosecuted for the crime of unlawful possession of property. You may be fined from 10,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND, sentenced to non-custodial correctional labor for up to 2 years, or imprisoned from 3 months to 2 years.
