On 30/1, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Court sentenced Tran Van Tai (34, residing in Mao Khe ward, former branch manager of a credit institution in the area) to life imprisonment for embezzlement and 4 years 6 months in prison for forging seals and documents of agencies and organizations. The combined sentence is life imprisonment.
In connection with the case, defendant Pham Ngoc Hung (37, residing in Mao Khe ward) was fined 200 million VND for usury in civil transactions.
According to the indictment, from 2022 to 9/2024, in his role as a branch manager, Tai exploited loopholes in the credit approval process to create dozens of fraudulent loan applications. To secure these loans, he either hired others or personally forged 20 land use rights certificates, 5 savings books, and falsified seals and signatures of various state agencies and notary organizations.
Using his authority, the defendant personally verified, approved the applications, and authorized disbursements in violation of regulations.
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Tran Van Tai (in blue) at this morning's trial. Photo: Xuan Hoa
Expert agencies concluded that all seals, signatures, and land and house documents in the applications were counterfeit. Through these schemes, Tai embezzled a total of over 96,4 billion VND, including over 58,5 billion VND from fake land use rights certificates and nearly 38 billion VND from fraudulent savings books. All disbursed funds were transferred directly into Tai's personal account for his private use.
On 7/10/2025, after his actions were exposed, Tai surrendered to the police.
During the investigation, police discovered that in 2024, needing personal funds, Tai borrowed 4,5 billion VND from Pham Ngoc Hung. Hung applied an interest rate of up to 123% per year, thereby illegally profiting over one billion VND.
The judicial panel determined that defendant Tai's actions were exceptionally dangerous, directly infringing upon the assets of the credit institution and the proper functioning of state agencies, thus necessitating a severe sentence as a deterrent.
Le Tan
