In an appeals trial on 23/9, Thuy was sentenced by the Tay Ninh Provincial People's Court to four years in prison for embezzlement, a reduction of one year from the original sentence.
Her accomplice, Nguyen Hoang Giang, 44, owner of a construction materials business, received a reduced sentence of two years and six months, down from three years and six months.
The court stated the sentences were reduced due to the defendants' contributions to local social welfare, difficult circumstances, and a petition for leniency signed by over 30 teachers.
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Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy at the trial. Photo: Nam An |
Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy at the trial. Photo: Nam An
At the time of the incident, Thuy was the principal of Vinh Thuan Primary and Secondary School in Vinh Hung district (formerly Long An province). Unable to repay personal debts, she created fictitious projects to withdraw state funds.
Thuy directed the school accountant to collude with Giang and a supply store owner to fabricate five dossiers and contracts for projects including security camera installation, restroom renovations, parking lot repairs, ceiling installation, and waterproofing.
Each fraudulent contract was kept below 50 million VND to avoid scrutiny from the District Department of Education and Training, as well as the District Department of Finance and Planning. After the school settled the contracts and transferred the money, Giang would return the funds to Thuy, who then shared 50% with the accountant.
Authorities allege that through this scheme, from early 2020 to 2023, Thuy embezzled nearly 50 million VND, the accountant received nearly 60 million VND, Giang almost 100 million VND, and the supply store owner over one million VND.
During an audit and inspection of the school's finances, authorities discovered none of the purported projects had been implemented. During the investigation, the defendants returned all embezzled funds.
In the initial trial in April, in addition to Thuy and Giang, the school accountant received a sentence of three years and six months, and the supply store owner a two-year suspended sentence.
Nam An
