Vietnam prosecutes former heads of forensic psychiatry institute and 63 others

On 4 August, the Hanoi People's Procuracy filed charges against two former directors of Vietnam's Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry and 63 additional suspects, bringing the total to 65 defendants. The indictment lists nine offences, including illegal storage and use of narcotics, drug trafficking, bribery, receipt and mediation of bribes, abuse of office, falsifying case files, gambling and fraud.

Among the accused are 48 staff members of the institute and other mental‑health hospitals. Specific individuals named include Nguyen Thi Mai Anh (born 1979), charged with fraud and multiple bribery offences, and her husband Le Van Dong (aka “Timo”, born 1978), charged with drug‑related crimes. The former institute heads are Tran Van Truong (born 1973), Ngo Van Vinh (born 1962, retired) and Duong Van Luong (born 1962, former deputy director).

The case originated from a police operation on 7 June 2025 at the Hubway 13 service station on Sam Son beach in Thanh Hóa Province, where Hanoi and Thanh Hóa police intercepted a drug‑using group linked to the institute. The prosecution marks a large‑scale crackdown on corruption and illegal drug activity within a state medical institution.