On 25/9, 18-year-old Ngan and six accomplices stood trial in the Tay Ninh Provincial People's Court, facing charges of human trafficking of minors and unlawful detention.

The jury adjourned for further deliberation and is expected to announce the verdict on 30/9.

Ho Bich Ngan at the trial. Photo: Thuong Son

Ngan testified that she was originally from Can Tho City and dropped out of school after 7th grade to work in Duc Hoa District (formerly Long An Province). In March of last year, Ngan, along with 43-year-old Vu Danh Hiep and 31-year-old Nguyen Van Lo, pooled their money to open a massage parlor in Duc Lap Ha Commune. Ngan and Hiep were responsible for recruiting female employees.

Through a referral, Ngan enlisted 26-year-old Nguyen Huu Phuoc to find employees. Phuoc recalled seeing an online advertisement posted by 23-year-old Nguyen Thanh Linh (originally from Binh Duong Province) seeking employees for massage and karaoke services, so he contacted him.

In early May, two 15-year-old girls in Ho Chi Minh City saw the advertisement and contacted Linh. He then informed Phuoc that he had found potential "targets," sending photos of the two girls to Ngan's group. They agreed to sell the girls for 10 million VND each.

When Linh and Phuoc brought the girls to Ngan by taxi, the girls refused to work as massage therapists. However, they were coerced into signing fabricated debt agreements, forcing them to work to repay the money Ngan's group claimed to have paid for them.

A month later, using the same tactic, Linh tricked two more girls under 16, who were working at a phone store in Ho Chi Minh City, into Ngan's massage parlor, selling them for 7 million VND each.

After forcing them to sign debt agreements, fearing they might escape, Ngan instructed her staff to lock the girls’ room and the sliding door at the bottom of the stairs.

That night, while the massage parlor staff were drinking beer, the two girls secretly planned their escape via text message. Early the next morning, taking advantage of the staff's intoxication and unlocked doors, the girls attempted to flee. However, the sound of a falling door latch alerted the staff, and they were caught.

Ngan then verbally abused and kicked one of the victims, confiscating their phones.

Ho Bich Ngan and her accomplices. Photo: Thuong Son

That same morning, Duc Lap Ha Commune police conducted a surprise inspection of the massage parlor. Ngan quickly instructed her staff to unlock the girls' room, but the authorities were not fooled.

During the investigation, Linh confessed to selling another girl to Ngan's group for 7 million VND. However, this girl escaped after just one day. Investigators stated that they were unable to identify her and would investigate this case separately.

At the trial, the victims were absent. Two of them submitted a request through their legal representatives for Linh to pay 30 million VND in compensation for emotional distress.

When the jury questioned the defendants, asking "are people commodities to be bought and sold repeatedly?", they remained silent, heads bowed. Ngan argued that she was a minor at the time of the crimes, did not understand the wrongfulness of her actions, and now deeply regrets her involvement.

The jury concluded that the crime involved multiple accomplices but was not an organized operation. Linh and Phuoc were responsible for finding the victims, while Ngan and Hiep were the masterminds who directly negotiated and received the girls. Lo played a supporting role.

The People's Procuracy stated that the defendants' repeated actions, violating the freedom of victims under 16, posed a serious danger to society.

The Procuracy recommended a sentence of 9 to 10 years for Ngan; and 8 to 15 years for Hiep, Linh, Phuoc, Lo, and another massage parlor employee for human trafficking of minors. Another employee, charged with unlawful detention for confining the two girls, faces a recommended sentence of 3 to 4 years.

Thuong Son