Vietnam: When does detention apply? What is the time limit for detention for investigation?

When does detention apply?

According to the provisions of Article 119 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2015, detention shall be applied when:

- Detention may apply to suspects and defendants perpetrating a horrific or extremely severe felony.

- Detention may apply to suspects or defendants committing a felony or misdemeanor punishable with incarceration for more than 02 years as per the Criminal Code if grounds show that:

+ Such persons commit crimes despite of existing preventive measures against them;

+ No definite place of residence is known or a defendant's identity is unidentified;

+ Such persons have absconded and have been arrested as per wanted notices or are evidently going to vanish;

+ Such persons continue criminal acts or are evidently going to continue crimes;

+ Such persons commit acts of bribing, coercing or inciting other individuals to give false statements or documents, destroying or forging case evidences, documents and item, shifting property related to the case away, threatening, repressing or avenging witness testifiers, crime victims, denouncers and their kin.

- Detention may apply to suspects or defendants committing a misdemeanor punishable with maximum 02-year imprisonment as per the Criminal Code if they continue criminal acts or are fugitives arrested as per wanted notices.

- If suspects or defendants have clear information of residence and identity and are gestating, raising a child less than 36 months of age, suffering from senility or serious diseases, detention shall be replaced by other preventive measures, except that:

+ They abscond and get arrested as per wanted notices;

+ They continue criminal acts;

+ They commit acts of bribing, coercing or inciting other individuals to give false statements or documents, destroying or forging case evidences, documents and item, shifting property related to the case away, threatening, repressing or avenging witness testifiers, crime victims, denouncers or their kin.

+ Suspects or defendants breach national security and detention evidently prevents them from transgressing national security.

Time limit for detention for investigation

According to the provisions of Clauses 1, 2, 5, 6, Article 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2015, the time limit for detention for investigation is as follows

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