Appropriating public property fined up to 20 million VND

Legal Consulting Office of Lao Dong Newspaper answers:

Clause 7, Article 1 of Decree 55/2026/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 63/2019/ND-CP stipulating penalties for administrative violations in the field of public asset management; practicing thrift, combating wastefulness; national reserves; state treasury has been amended and supplemented by Decree No. 102/2021/ND-CP (effective February 9, 2026) as follows:

7. Amending and supplementing a number of clauses of Article 12 as follows:

a) Amending and supplementing Clause 1 as follows:

“1. Fines for organizations and individuals with acts of appropriating public property (holding and using public property without permission from competent agencies or persons) but not serious enough to be prosecuted for criminal liability according to the following penalties:

a) From 5 million VND to 10 million VND for public assets that are machinery, equipment, and other assets not within the scope specified in point b of this clause;

b) From 10 million VND to 20 million VND in case of appropriation of workplaces, business establishments, and cars".

Thus, from February 9, 2026, the appropriation of public property not in accordance with regulations but not to the extent of criminal prosecution will be fined up to 20 million VND according to the above regulations.