On the afternoon of 24/11, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court sentenced Hiep, 35, to 14 years in prison for property appropriation fraud, under Article 174 of the Penal Code.

In connection with the case, Pham Ngoc Minh, 41, received seven years and six months in prison; Pham Duy Vuong, 42, and Vo Thanh Danh, 49, received two to three-year suspended sentences for the same offense.

According to the indictment, Hiep and Loan, residing in Duc Chau commune (formerly part of Dien Chau district), had known each other for many years. In 2023, after Loan's husband, younger brother, and older brother were prosecuted for violating regulations on the protection of endangered and rare animals, Hiep contacted her. He claimed to know influential people and promised to secure suspended sentences for two individuals, while the third would have their charge reduced "from clause 3 to clause 1."

Defendant Hoang Hiep (wearing glasses) and three accomplices in court. Photo: Duc Hung

Hiep then contacted Pham Ngoc Minh, asking him to "fix" the case. Through Minh's introduction, Hiep and Loan met Pham Duy Vuong, who claimed he could handle the matter and demanded a fee of 3 billion VND.

Authorities allege that from 8/2023 to 1/2024, Loan transferred 2,3 billion VND to Hiep. Hiep only transferred 1,4 billion VND to Vuong, spending the rest. As the trial date approached, with no progress from Vuong, Hiep demanded the money back and received over 1 billion VND.

Upon receiving the money, Hiep transferred nearly 300 million VND to Minh, who then transferred 90 million VND to Danh for bribes.

Hiep's group spent all the money without contacting any judicial authorities to "influence" the case as promised. When Loan's relatives were sentenced to six years to seven years and six months in prison, Hiep reassured her that he would "fix" it at the appellate hearing and advised her to file an appeal.

The appellate court subsequently upheld the original sentences for the defendants. Realizing she had been defrauded, Loan reported Hiep and his accomplices' fraudulent activities to the Nghe An Provincial Police in 11/2024.

Duc Hung