Ho Ngoc Tien Trung, Director of Dai Nam Aesthetic Dentistry Co., Ltd. (a party in a divorce and asset dispute valued at approximately 1,200 billion VND), was prosecuted and temporarily detained on 11/7 by the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security (C01). He faces charges of fraud to appropriate assets and violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.

In connection with the case, Thai Huu Van was arrested for fraud to appropriate assets, while Dam Thi Bich Hang was accused of violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences. Authorities took these actions about one month after the People's Court of District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, suspended the divorce proceedings between Trung and his wife.

Colonel Tong Nhu Son, Deputy Director of C01, stated on the Ministry of Public Security's e-portal that Trung established Dai Nam Aesthetic Dentistry Co., Ltd. in 2009 and served as its director. He subsequently hired 37 licensed doctors and opened 46 clinics across Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Khanh Hoa, registering them as individual business households.

Although these entities were registered under various legal names and household owners, Trung managed and operated all of them. This arrangement aimed to disperse revenue, reduce declared taxes, and minimize payments to the state budget.

Ho Ngoc Tien Trung (top row, left) at his divorce hearing in 5/2026. Photo: Hai Duyen

Since its establishment, the Dai Nam system of clinics has served over 1,2 million customers, generating a total actual revenue of approximately 2,532 billion VND. The amount appropriated through dental crown fraud between 2024 and 5/2026 is temporarily estimated at over 121 billion VND.

To attract customers for examinations, treatments, and services, Trung organized a marketing department comprising 19 employees responsible for sales and content production. This team also ran online advertisements on Dai Nam's two official company websites and social media platforms.

Trung advertised Dai Nam as a reputable and high-quality dental system with a team of doctors holding doctorates, master's degrees, and specialized qualifications in maxillofacial dentistry. He also promised that customers would receive examinations and treatments from experienced doctors using modern European equipment and professional procedures.

The websites also advertised the use of genuine materials and implant posts sourced from the US, Switzerland, France, and South Korea. The company promoted premium dental crown lines such as Cercon Heat, Emax, Lava Plus, and Diamond Plus, highlighting their durability, aesthetic appeal, and long-term warranties.

Dai Nam Dentistry also publicly displayed price lists, promotional programs, and committed to safe, accurate, and effective services. This strategy built trust, encouraging customers to choose their services and make payments.

At the clinics, Trung employed 415 staff members, most of whom lacked professional qualifications or practice certificates. Despite this, these individuals directly participated in consultations, examinations, treatments, and dental procedures.

Additionally, many receptionists at the facilities were assigned duties of welcoming, caring for customers, and cashiers. Upon a customer's arrival, the receptionist would inquire about their needs and oral health, then input information, guide them through the examination, and advise on selecting a doctor or dentist.

Following a recommendation for dental crowns, dental staff would consult the price list, tooth samples, and promotional programs to persuade customers. They typically offered customers premium dental crown lines originating from Germany, the US, and Japan.

Doctor Ho Ngoc Tien Trung. Photo: Dai Nam Dentistry

According to Colonel Son, despite the elaborate advertisements, Trung instructed the laboratory to use lower-value Aidite porcelain from China to fabricate the crowns. Despite lacking proper documentation, the warranty cards still listed the premium dental crown type that customers had registered for. This led customers to believe they received the correct product, allowing Trung to appropriate the price difference.

Initially, Trung instructed staff to collect customer payments in cash or transfer them to personal accounts directly managed by him or registered under other individuals' names. Police have collected documents related to 42 accounts opened and used for receiving customer payments.

Furthermore, Trung directed employees to use software like Kiot Viet, Excel data, Google Drive, and internal ledgers to manage actual revenue. However, these records only reflected a portion of the revenue, along with the accounting books, invoices, and tax declaration documents.

Trung used some of the initial funds collected from the system to purchase valuable real estate, gold, automobiles, and watches. Police are continuing to expand the investigation to hold relevant individuals and organizations accountable.

Trung has recently gained attention as the plaintiff in a 10-year legal battle concerning the annulment of an illegal marriage, divorce, and asset dispute with his wife, Ngoc Anh.

Case files indicate that Trung claimed he agreed to marry because he believed his wife was pregnant with his child, but later discovered the child was not biologically related to him. He sought a divorce and refused to divide communal property, arguing that the marriage was unlawful. However, he offered to give his wife 20% of the asset value "for peace of mind."

Conversely, Ngoc Anh opposed the request for marriage annulment, asserting that the marriage was entirely voluntary. They lived together for over 20 years, jointly building assets estimated at over 1,200 billion VND, including numerous properties, bank deposits, and a chain of 38 dental clinics.

Pham Du