The Immigration Department of the former Binh Thuan province (now Lam Dong province) uncovered a fake document ring during routine checks on foreign residents and their activities. The Security Investigation Agency then joined the investigation, gathering evidence and building the case.
According to the indictment presented at the Lam Dong Provincial People's Court on 12/8, in June 2021, Le Thi Bich Huong (37, residing in the former Ham Thuan Nam district) was working for Yualaimei Co., Ltd. She was tasked with obtaining work permits for Chinese nationals at the company. Unfamiliar with the process, Huong searched online and found Vu Hoai Thanh (28, residing in Ho Chi Minh City), who offered this service.
Thanh accepted the job knowing Huong's cases lacked the necessary documentation. He used image editing software to forge documents from original copies, then falsified signatures and seals of judicial authorities and the Vietnamese consulate in China. Using this method, he created 29 fake experience certificates, 18 fake health certificates, two fake bachelor's degrees, and three fake criminal record clearances, profiting over 206 million VND.
After losing contact with Thanh (due to his arrest in another case), Huong contacted Tran Thi Thu Thuy to purchase 13 more fake certificates to submit to the Binh Thuan Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for 36 Chinese workers, making a profit of over 255 million VND.
Thuy acted as an intermediary, contacting Pham Thi Ngoc Hau to order 28 forged experience certificates. Thuy sold 13 certificates to Huong and used the remaining 13 for other Chinese workers' applications, earning almost 209 million VND.
Hau initially purchased forged documents from Pham Ngoc Thach and later created 22 more fake experience certificates for Thuy, earning over 32 million VND. Thach sold six fake certificates to Hau for a profit of 12 million VND.
During this period, Wu Yanqiong (42, Chinese national) was referred to Huong by acquaintances to prepare fake documents for 18 fellow Chinese nationals in Binh Thuan. Wu paid tens of millions of VND for 18 forged, notarized experience certificates and five fake health certificates. Wu profited over 47 million VND from this operation. He is currently a fugitive.
The investigation revealed that from 2021 to August 2022, the defendants forged various documents, including experience certificates, judicial records, health certificates, and diplomas, to legitimize work permit applications for 52 Chinese nationals at 25 businesses in the former Binh Thuan province.
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Vu Hoai Thanh (in green) and the other defendants at the trial. Photo: Duc Thang |
Despite Wu Yanqiong being a fugitive, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Court proceeded with the trial in his absence. After deliberation, the judges determined the defendants' actions were detrimental to society, directly infringing upon the administrative management of state agencies, and seriously impacting social order, warranting strict penalties.
The court sentenced Vu Hoai Thanh to 4 years in prison for forging documents of agencies and organizations under Article 341 of the Penal Code.
Tran Thi Thu Thuy, Pham Thi Ngoc Hau, Pham Ngoc Thach, and Wu Yanqiong received sentences ranging from one to 4 years for the same crime.
Le Thi Bich Huong (37, residing in the former Ham Thuan Nam district) received a sentence of two years and six months for using forged documents of agencies and organizations.
Tu Huynh
