Law: 28 prosecuted as bribery scandal lays bare corruption in Vietnam’s court system
Vietnam’s Supreme People’s Procuracy has charged 28 individuals in connection with a sweeping bribery scandal that spanned 20 cases across Da Nang, Dak Lak, Phu Tho, and Hue between 2022 and 2024, VN Express has reported → view source.
Among those indicted are 10 former judges and court officials, three prosecutors, two enforcement officers, four lawyers, and nine defendants or litigants.
Investigators say more than VND 11.4 billion (US$456,000) was exchanged to sway verdicts in both criminal and civil cases.
The bribes covered a wide range of requests: reduced prison sentences for murder and gambling convictions, favourable outcomes in inheritance and property disputes, and even delayed hearings so defendants could spend holidays at home.
How the scheme worked
- Demand for influence: A defendant, family member, or litigant sought to avoid harsh sentences, reverse an unfavourable ruling, or preserve a favourable verdict.
- Brokers as gatekeepers: Direct access to judges was rare. Money passed through intermediaries — often lawyers, court clerks, relatives of judges, or acquaintances — who acted as “case runners.”
- Multi-layered chain: Each case involved at least three intermediaries, sometimes five. Every broker took a cut before passing money upward.
- Reduced share for officials: By the time funds reached a judge, typically only 30 to 50 percent of the original sum remained.
- Desired outcome: Bribes bought sentence reductions, overturned rulings, blocked appeals, or delayed trials. Payments ranged from VND 50 million (US$2,000) to several billion dong.
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