If a 15-year-old person breaks someone's nose because of a conflict on social networks, shall he/she face criminal responsibilities in Vietnam?

If a 15-year-old person breaks someone's nose because of a conflict on social networks, shall he/she face criminal responsibilities in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Criminal Code in 2015 (amended by Clause 22 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code in 2017) stipulating deliberate infliction of bodily harm upon another person as follows:

1. A person who deliberately inflicts bodily harm upon another person and causes 11% - 30% whole person impairment (WPI) or under 11% WPI in any of the following circumstances shall face a penalty of up to 03 years' community sentence or 06 - 36 months' imprisonment:

a) Explosive, a dangerous weapon, a dangerous method is used to harm numerous people;

b) Acid or a hazardous chemical is used;

c) The victim is a person aged under 16, a women whose pregnancy is known by the offender, an old and weak, sick, or defenseless person;

d) The victim is the offender's grandparent, parent, caregiver, teacher or physician;

dd) The offence is committed by an organized group;

e) The offender misuses his/her position or power to commit the offence;

g) The offender commits the crime while being kept in temporary detention, serving an imprisonment sentence, receiving compulsory education in a reform school, correctional institution or rehabilitation center;

h) The offence hires another person or is hired by another person to inflict bodily harm to another person;

i) The offence is of a gangster-like nature;

k) The offence is committed against a law enforcement officer in performance of his/her official duties or because of his/her official duties.

2. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 02 - 06 years' imprisonment:

a) The offence causes 31% - 60% WPI for another person;

b) The offence results in bodily harm to more than one person, each of whom suffers from 11% - 30% WPI;

c) The offence has been committed more than once;

d) Dangerous recidivism;

dd) The offence results in bodily harm to another person who suffers from 11% - 30% WPI in any of the circumstances specified in Point a through k Clause 1 of this Article.

3. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 05 - 10 years' imprisonment:

a) The offence results in ≥ 61% WPI of the victim, except in the circumstances specified in Point b Clause 4 of this Article;

b) The offence results in bodily harm to more than one person, each of whom suffers from 31% - 60% WPI;

c) The offence results in bodily harm to another person who suffers from 31% - 60% WPI in any of the circumstances specified in Point a through k Clause 1 of this Article;

d) The offence results in bodily harm to more than one person, each of whom suffers from 11% - 30% WPI in any of the circumstances specified in Point a through k Clause 1 of this Article.

4. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 07 - 14 years' imprisonment:

a) The offence results in the death of a person;

b) The offence results in deformation of the victim’s face and the physical disability inflected is ≥ 61%;

c) The offence results in bodily harm to more than one person, each of whom suffers from ≥ 61% WPI;

d) The offence results in bodily harm to another person who suffers from ≥ 61% WPI in any of the circumstances specified in Point a through k Clause 1 of this Article;

dd) The offence results in bodily harm to more than one person, each of whom suffers from 31% - 60% WPI in any of the circumstances specified in Point a through k Clause 1 of this Article.

5. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 12 - 20 years' imprisonment or life imprisonment:

a) The offence results in the death of more than one person;

b) The offence results in bodily harm to more than one person, each of whom suffers from ≥ 61% WPI in any of the circumstances specified in Point a through k Clause 1 of this Article.

6. Any person who prepares a weapon, explosive, acid, dangerous chemical; establishes or joins a group of criminals to inflicts bodily harm upon another person and shall face a penalty of up to 02 years' community sentence or 03 - 24 months' imprisonment.

Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 12 of the Criminal Code in 2015 (amended by Clause 3 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code in 2017) stipulating age of criminal responsibility as follows:

2. A person from 14 years of age to be low 16 years of age shall bear criminal responsibility for very serious crimes and extremely serious crimes specified in Articles 123, 134, 141, 142, 143, 144, 150, 151, 168, 169, 170, 171, 173, 178, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 265, 266, 286, 287, 289, 290, 299, 303, 304 hereof.

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Criminal Code in 2015 (amended by Clause 2 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code in 2017) stipulating classification of crimes as follows:

1. Crimes defined in this Code are classified into 04 categories according to their nature and danger to society:

a) Less serious crime means a crime whose danger to society is not significant and for which the maximum sentence defined by this Code is a fine, community sentence (non-custodial), or 03 years' imprisonment;

b) Serious crime means a crime whose danger to society is significant and for which the maximum sentence of the bracket defined by this Code is from over 03 years' to 07 years' imprisonment;

c) Very serious crime means a crime whose danger to society is great and for which the maximum sentence of the bracket defined by this Code is from over 07 years' to 15 years' imprisonment;

d) Extremely serious crime means a crime whose danger to society is enormous and for which the maximum sentence of the bracket defined by this Code is from over 15 years' to 20 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment, or death.

As regulations above, people under 16 shall face criminal responsibilities for deliberate infliction of bodily harm upon another person, if it is a very serious crime or extremely serious crime.

L is 15 years old. He broke H's nose (deliberate infliction of bodily harm upon another person) will be prosecuted for criminal responsibilities depending on the injury rate and the results of the investigation agency. If L's behavior falls into the penalty of very serious or extremely serious crime, L will face criminal responsibilities. According to those two penalty frames, L will face a penalty of up to 07 years' imprisonment or life sentence.

If a person accidentally fall and brake someone's nose, shall he/she face criminal responsibilities in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 138 of the Criminal Code in 2015 (amended by Clause 2.dd Article 2 of the Law on amendments to the Criminal Code in 2017) stipulating involuntary infliction of bodily harm upon others as follows:

1. Any person who involuntarily inflicts 31% - 60% WPI to another person shall receive a warning, be liable to a fine of VND 5,000,000 - VND 20,000,000 or face a penalty of up to 01 year’s community sentence.

2. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 03 - 02 years' imprisonment:

a) The offence results in bodily harm of 02 or more people, each of whom suffers from 31% - 60% WPI;

b) The offence causes ≥ 61% WPI for the victim.

3. If this offence results in bodily harm of 02 or more people, each of whom suffers from ≥ 61% WPI, the offender shall face a penalty of 01 - 03 years' imprisonment.

If a person accidentally fall and brake someone's nose, he/she shall be liable to criminal prosecution for involuntary infliction of bodily harm upon others. The offender shall face a penalty of 01 year’s community sentence or 01 - 03 years' imprisonment.

What are crimes that are subject to non-application of time limit for criminal prosecution in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 28 of the Criminal Code in 2015 stipulating non-application of time limit for criminal prosecution as follows:

Time limit for criminal prosecution does not apply to the following crimes:

1. Infringement of national security specified in Chapter XIII hereof;

2. Disturbing the peace, crimes against humanity and war crimes specified in Chapter XXVI hereof;

3. Embezzlement in the circumstances specified in Clause 3 and Clause 4 Article 353 hereof; acceptance of bribes in the circumstances specified in Clause 3 and Clause 4 Article 254 hereof.

Above are 3 crimes that are subject to non-application of time limit for criminal prosecution in Vietnam.

Best regards!