What are the penalties for the crime of circulating counterfeit money in Vietnam? What are judgments related to this issue?

1. What are the penalties for the crime of circulating counterfeit money in Vietnam?

According to the provisions of Article 207 of the Criminal Code 2015 of Vietnam regarding the crime of manufacturing, storing, transporting, and circulating counterfeit money:

- Imprisonment from 03 years to 07 years: Whoever manufactures, stores, transports, circulates counterfeit money/

- Imprisonment from 05 years to 12 years: Committing a crime in case the counterfeit money has a corresponding value from 5,000,000 VND to under 50,000,000 VND.

- Imprisonment from 10 years to 20 years or life imprisonment: Committing a crime in case the counterfeit money has a corresponding value from 50,000,000 VND or more.

Additionally, those who prepare to commit this crime will be punished with non-custodial reform for up to 03 years or imprisonment from 01 year to 03 years.

Supplementary penalties: Persons who commit the crime of circulating counterfeit money may also be fined from 10,000,000 VND to 100,000,000 VND or have part or all of their property confiscated.

Thus, those who commit the crime of circulating counterfeit money can be prosecuted for criminal liability with a penalty frame from 03 years to life imprisonment. Even preparing to commit the crime is punishable by non-custodial reform to 3 years of imprisonment. This regulation demonstrates the strictness of Vietnamese law against the act of circulating counterfeit money.

2. What are some judgments related to the crime of circulating counterfeit money in Vietnam?

Here are some judgments related to the crime of circulating counterfeit money resolved by the Vietnamese Courts:

Judgment on the crime of circulating counterfeit money No. 04/2022/HS-ST

- Level of trial: First instance.

- Trial authority: People's Court of An Giang Province.

- Excerpt of content: “At about 19:20 on January 23, 2021, V1 commune police, district C, An Giang province received a report from Mr. To Hoang H. about Nguyen Tan D2. (also known as Lai) together with D2. (identity unknown) driving a motorcycle with license plate 67AE-1878 to H.'s grocery store (located in hamlet Q., V1 commune) to buy 02 mobile phone top-up cards of 100,000 VND and paid with B7. counterfeit banknotes of 500,000 VND denomination. During the initial investigation, D2. confessed that the 500,000 VND counterfeit bills were given by Pham Tan D1. and Le Van D..”

Judgment on the crime of circulating counterfeit money No. 109/2021/HS-ST

- Level of trial: First instance.

- Trial authority: People's Court of Thuan An city, Binh Duong province.

- Excerpt of content: “On May 09, 2020, Bui Huu N. gave Tran Hoang V. 1,000,000 VND counterfeit money to V. for circulating and exchanging it for real money. At about 19:30 on the same day, V. invited Tran Van K. to circulate counterfeit money together, and K. agreed. K. rode N.'s motorcycle, carrying V. to Huong T café to have drinks. After a while, V. gave K. a counterfeit banknote of 500,000 VND denomination to K. to redeem a phone, while V. stayed at Huong T café for drinks and massage. V. used one 500,000 VND counterfeit banknote to pay the café's staff Ms. Dang Thuy H., and then V. was given 320,000 VND real money back by Ms. H. On May 10, 2020, An Phu Ward Police, Thuan An City conducted a search of V.'s rental room and found V. storing counterfeit money, then made an on-site arrest of V., and seized: 02 counterfeit banknotes of 500,000 VND denomination with the same serial number GG 03949520; 01 counterfeit banknote of 500,000 VND denomination with serial number EL 10075974. During the investigation, the accused K. fled and was wanted, and on December 20, 2020, was arrested.”

Judgment 07/2021/HS-ST dated March 23, 2021, on the crime of circulating counterfeit money

- Level of trial: First instance.

- Trial authority: People's Court of district C, Long An province.

- Excerpt of content: “At about 12:30 pm on April 19, 2020, D rode a motorbike to Minh T electrical and household goods store, owned by Mr. S, to buy 03 cans of spray paint (01 yellow can, 01 silver can, 01 black can) of 400ml, 01 hex key 14mm, 01 roll of electrical tape, 01 bolt, and nut 10mm size, totaling 120,000 VND. D gave Mr. So a 500,000 VND Vietnamese banknote with serial number UU 11032688 for payment, Mr. So gave back 380,000 VND. After D left, Mr. So checked the bill, found it did not resemble real money, so he reported to the V commune police and handed over the bill.”

Please Login to be able to download