Is concealing a body after committing murder considered an aggravating factor in criminal responsibility in Vietnam?

Is concealing a body after committing murder considered an aggravating factor in criminal responsibility in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 52 of the Criminal Code in 2015 (amended by Article 2 of the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code in 2017) stipulating aggravating factors as follows:

1. The following circumstances are considered aggravating factors:

a) Organized crime;

b) The crime is committed in a professional manner;

c) The offender abuses his/her position or power to commit the crime;

d) The crime is of a gangster-like nature;

dd) The crime is committed by despicable motives;

e) The offender is determined to commit the crime to the end;

g) The offence has been committed more than once;

h) Recidivism or dangerous recidivism;

i) The crime is committed against a person under 16 years of age, pregnant woman or a person aged 70 years or older;

k) The crime is committed against a defenseless person, a person having a serious physical disability or extremely serious physical disability, a person whose awareness is limited or a person who is financially, spiritually, professionally or otherwise dependent on the offender;

l) The offender takes advantage of war, state of emergency, natural disaster, epidemic or other tragic circumstances of society to commit the crime;

m) The offender makes use of a sophisticated, deceitful or ruthless trick to commit the crime;

n) The offender uses a trick or instrument capable of harming many people to commit the crime;

o) The offender incites a person aged under 18 to commit the crime;

p) The offender has deceitful or violent actions to conceal the crime.

2. Circumstances defined by this document as the basis for determination of a crime or sentence bracket shall not be considered an aggravating factor.

As regulations above, if the offender has deceitful or violent actions to conceal the crime, it is considered an aggravating factor. Therefore, when the offender has deceitful actions to conceal a body after committing murder, it is also considered an aggravating factor.

Is concealing a body after committing murder considered an aggravating factor in criminal responsibility in Vietnam? - Image from Internet

What are criminal responsibilities for killing someone under the age of 16 in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 123 of the Criminal Code in 2015 stipulating murder as follows:

1. A murderer in any of the cases below shall face a penalty of 12 - 20 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment or death:

a) Murder of 02 or more people;

b) Murder of a person aged under 16;

c) Murder of a woman with the full knowledge of her pregnancy;

d) Murder of a law enforcement officer in performance of his/her official duties or murder of a person because of his/her official duties;

dd) Murder of the murderer's grandparent, parent, caregiver or teacher;

e) Murder committed right before or after committing a very serious crime or extremely serious crime;

g) Murder for the commission or concealment of another crime;

g) Murder for taking the victim's body parts;

i) Brutal murder;

k) Murder by taking advantage of the murderer's profession;

l) Murder using a method capable of killing many people;

m) Contract killing;

n) Murder of a gangster-like nature;

o) Organized murder;

p) Dangerous recidivism;

q) Murder from despicable motives.

2. Murder in circumstances other than those specified in Clause 1 of this Article carries a penalty of 07 - 15 years' imprisonment.

3. Any person who makes preparation for the commission of this offence shall face a penalty of 01 - 05 years' imprisonment.

4. The offender might be forbidden from practicing his/her profession or doing certain jobs for 01 - 05 years, face mandatory supervision or prohibition from residence for 01 - 05 years.

As regulations above, anyone killing people under the age of 16 shall face a penalty of 12 - 20 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment or death.

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