On 21/4, the An Giang Provincial People's Court began the trial of Mot and Hang for fraudulent appropriation of assets. Hang faces an additional charge of money laundering.

Nguyen Thi Hang and

According to the indictment, from 2018 to 2023, Mot introduced Hang to sign contracts to "process red books" (land use rights certificates), despite knowing the land plots were forest or State-managed, rendering them ineligible for such certificates. Neither had the capacity to fulfill these promises, yet they provided false information to appropriate assets.

In a specific instance in November 2021, Mot agreed to help a Mrs. Tran from Ho Chi Minh City obtain a red book. He connected her with Hang, setting the price at 38 million dong per 1,000 square meters and insisting on this price for the contract to be signed. Hang then signed two contracts worth nearly 200 billion dong. After inspecting the land, she discovered it was forest land and reported this to Mot. Mot reassured her that the forest boundaries would be relocated according to planning. Hang subsequently received a total of 22 billion dong but failed to deliver on her commitments.

Using a surplus plot of 3 hectares, Hang invited Mot to find buyers. They defrauded two victims into buying one hectare for 6 billion dong. To build trust, Mot promised to resell the land at six times the price three months later, and also pledged to secure a red book for 5 billion dong. Through this scheme, they appropriated an additional 11 billion dong. Using similar tactics, they carried out two more schemes, appropriating nearly 35 billion dong.

Le Van Mot at the 21/4 trial. *Photo: Tran Thanh*

Hang testified that she followed Mot's directives.

Investigative authorities determined that Mot played a role in building trust, directly communicating and urging money transfers; Hang received money through her account. After receiving funds, Hang stated she gave cash to Mot or transferred it through various intermediary accounts as requested. Additionally, Hang was accused of money laundering for using nearly 21 billion dong to purchase real estate, asking others to register it in their names or hold it to conceal its origin.

At the court, Hang admitted to the acts, testifying that she signed contracts multiple times at Mot's request because "as a State official, he could not sign them himself." When concerned about legal violations, she was reassured: "I am the city police chief; there is no way this could be illegal."

Mot denied receiving money, claiming victims transferred funds themselves.

Contradicting Hang's testimony, Mot denied the complicity charges. The former colonel admitted introducing people who needed red books to Hang, but asserted he did not promise to complete the procedures. He also stated he introduced friends to buy land because he believed it was "land with clear origins" and the seller "was a good person." Mot repeatedly affirmed he did not receive money from Hang or the victims. Regarding transfers to his account, he explained that "close friends often have each other's account numbers," and victims transferred money themselves to "increase the reliability" of their transactions with Hang.

On the afternoon of 21/4, the trial will continue with questioning of victims and related parties.

Ngoc Tai