On 6/7, the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Court sentenced Diem to 9 years in prison. Seven accomplices received sentences ranging from one year to 8 years and 6 months for fraud, appropriation of property, under Article 174 of the Penal Code.
In court, the eight defendants expressed remorse, hoping for leniency to return soon and atone for their mistakes.
The trial panel determined that the defendants' actions endangered society, directly violated others' property rights, and negatively affected local security and order, warranting strict punishment.
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The defendants in court, on the afternoon of 6/7. Photo: Hung Le |
The defendants in court, on the afternoon of 6/7. Photo: Hung Le
According to the indictment, in August 2025, Diem established a high-tech fraud ring, renting a building in Svay Rieng province, Cambodia, as its operational headquarters. The group used social media to find phone numbers of stores and businesses in Vietnam selling items like rice, meat, and animal feed. They then used burner SIM cards to impersonate military officers or detention center officials, claiming to need large quantities of food to supply agencies within a few days.
After agreeing on prices but before payment, Diem's group asked sellers to purchase additional products their stores did not carry, such as canned meat, veterinary medicine, and wine, to be delivered with the ordered goods. They promised the partners a significant profit margin. Once victims transferred money, the fraudsters cut off communication.
Authorities accused that, using this scheme, from September to October 2025, the ring led by Diem defrauded over 20 victims across the country, appropriating over 1.2 billion VND.
In November 2025, Ha Tinh Police, along with professional units, cooperated with the Ministry of Public Security's representative agency in Cambodia to dismantle the ring.
Duc Hung
