What are penalties for attacking the culprit in Vietnam?

Administrative sanction for the act of attacking the culprit in Vietnam

Pursuant to Clause 10, Article 11 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP stipulating a fine ranging from VND 6,000,000 to VND 8,000,000 shall be imposed upon any person:

a) Spreading nails or other pointed objects on public roads, spilling oil or other slippery substances on public roads; stretching strings or placing obstacles on public roads that threaten people and vehicles in traffic;

b) Infringing upon the health or belongings of the victim or the culprit;

c) Taking advantage of the accident to attack, threaten, inciting, harassing other people, disturb the order, or obstruct the handling of the road collision.

Thus, according to the above regulations in Vietnam, your behavior may be administratively sanctioned with a fine ranging from VND 6,000,000 to VND 8,000,000. However, if your behavior constitutes a crime, you may be subject to criminal prosecution.

How is beating the culprit criminally prosecuted in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 134 of the 2015 Penal Code as amended by Clause 22, Article 1 of the 2017 Penal Code Amendment Law, there are the following provisions:

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.

According to this Article, if you attack, intentionally cause injury to the person causing the traffic accident in the above cases, depending on the extent of the damage caused by the accident, you will be examined for penal liability with the form of criminal liability. The lowest penalty for this violation is a community sentence for up to three years or a prison term of between six months and three years in Vietnam.

Does beating the culprit due to incitement have to be criminally responsible in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 135 of the 2015 Penal Code, as amended by the Penal Code Amendment Law 2017, there are provisions on deliberate infliction of bodily harm upon others under provocation as follows:

1. A person who deliberately inflicts bodily harm upon another people and causes 31% - 60% WPI under provocation because of the victim's serious violations of law against the offender or the offender's family member shall face a fine of VND 10,000,000 - VND 50,000,000 or face a penalty of up to 03 years' community sentence.

2. This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 06 - 36 months'' 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 or death of the victim.

According to this Article, even though you are under provocation, if you intentionally cause injury to the person who has collided with you with the above injury, you will still be prosecuted for criminal responsibility with a low penalty of between VND 10,000,000 and 50,000,000 or community sentence for up to 3 years in Vietnam.

Best Regards!