An Giang court clerk caught red-handed taking bribes to fix legal case

AN GIANG, Vietnam — Police have arrested a court clerk for allegedly soliciting bribes from a defendant's family in exchange for a reduced prison sentence, authorities said.

Bùi Hữu Phước, 25, a secretary at the An Giang Provincial People’s Court, was taken into custody on charges of abusing his position and power to appropriate property.

Investigators say the scheme began on Dec. 30, 2025, when Phước contacted the daughter of a defendant in a case he was assigned to. He reportedly demanded 300 million VND to ensure her father’s sentence was reduced from a potential 12 to 18 years down to just five years.

The woman initially refused the offer, citing a lack of funds. Following a postponement of the trial, Phước contacted the family again on Jan. 19, 2026, lowering his demand to 100 million VND in exchange for a seven-year sentence.

The family agreed to meet Phước in Rach Gia City with an initial payment of 50 million VND.

Police moved in and arrested Phước at the scene after he accepted the cash and demanded the remaining 50 million VND be delivered the following morning. The investigation is ongoing.

The arrest of a court clerk in An Giang province has provided a stark illustration of the systemic bribery often referred to in Vietnam as “sentencing brokering.” The case underscores the persistence of a transactional shadow market within the judiciary, where justice is commodified, severely undermining public trust in the legal framework.

The conduct of Bui Huu Phuoc, a low-level official, highlights a brazen level of perceived impunity. By allegedly soliciting 300 million VND (approximately $12,000) to influence a trial, Phuoc demonstrated a belief that the judicial process could be manipulated for profit. The specific nature of the negotiations—offering tiered "pricing" for reduced prison terms—reveals a familiar pattern of illicit bargaining that stands in direct opposition to the principles of legal transparency.

While the arrest represents a tactical success for internal investigators, it reinforces long-standing criticisms from both domestic and international observers regarding the lack of judicial independence in Vietnam. The incident also invites scrutiny of the government’s ongoing anti-graft campaign. While the "Blazing Furnace" initiative has successfully targeted high-ranking political and corporate figures, the An Giang case suggests that grassroots corruption remains deeply entrenched. Ultimately, the prosecution of a single clerk serves as both a milestone in enforcement and a sobering indicator of the structural challenges facing judicial reform.

For many in the Vietnamese-American community—from the bustling hubs of Little Saigon to entrepreneurs in the nail salon industry—reports of legal bribery and case-fixing only serve to deepen a long-standing distrust of the Vietnamese government. This case is a sobering reminder of the systemic risks and inherent unfairness that their family members and business partners face when navigating the legal system back home. Whether they are managing F2B visa sponsorships or investing remittances into local ventures, the lack of transparency remains a constant concern for those with ties to the homeland.