On 14/8, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM) held a public hearing for new evidence and continued the mediation session regarding the inheritance dispute of Hoang Duc Tien (the late actor Duc Tien). The disputed properties include land and a house in Thu Duc and Long An.

Both the plaintiff, Nguyen Binh Phuong, and the defendant, Nguyen Ngoc Anh (Duc Tien's mother), were absent, represented by their attorneys. At the hearing, the parties disclosed the appraised value of the disputed house and land: 7.2 billion VND.

Binh Phuong's representative submitted a statement along with supporting documents, including emails, photos, and transaction records. These served as evidence of money transfers from the US to Duc Tien for the land purchase and house construction before their wedding.

According to Binh Phuong, she and Duc Tien met in 2007 and got engaged in 2008. During this time, her family provided 50,000 USD for them to purchase land and build a house in Thu Duc. In October 2008, Duc Tien brought 10,000 USD in cash to Vietnam, while the remaining amount was sent through a money transfer service. Later that year, she brought an additional 10,000 USD to support the construction.

Throughout 2009, during the construction process, Duc Tien regularly sent emails with photos updating the progress from groundbreaking to completion. This contradicted Ms. Anh's claim that the house was a renovation of an existing structure. Binh Phuong explained that during this period, she worked at a law firm in Texas and earned enough to continue sending money back to Vietnam. Her husband also took out loans to complete the project.

In March 2011, before their marriage registration and the process of sponsoring her husband to move to the US, she returned to Vietnam with 10,000 USD to settle debts. Around the same time, the house in Thu Duc received its land use rights certificate and house ownership certificate under Duc Tien's name. However, Binh Phuong affirmed that this property was formed from the financial resources and efforts of both of them.

Duc Tien in the movie "Fragile Flower". Photo: BHD

Duc Tien in the movie "Fragile Flower". Photo: BHD

In addition to this house, in 2015, the couple purchased another plot of land in Long An (now Tay Ninh). Although Duc Tien was the named owner, Binh Phuong sent the money from the US for the purchase. This was documented in an email dated 11/12/2015, which was submitted to the court.

The plaintiff also provided information showing that from 2020 to 2023, during the renovation and upgrade of the Thu Duc house for sale, Duc Tien made multiple money transfers from the US (totaling over 20,500 USD and 180 million VND in cash) to relatives or directly to the contractors. Due to disagreements on the selling price, her husband subsequently rented out the house.

Binh Phuong argued that her mother-in-law's testimony about living in the house since 2009 and contributing financially was "untrue." According to Binh Phuong, Ms. Ngoc Anh had been provided accommodation in Bien Hoa by her husband since 2020. Both the Thu Duc property and the land in Long An were acquired and renovated during their marriage, using their joint efforts and finances, and therefore constituted joint marital assets under Article 33 of the 2014 Law on Marriage and Family. Before his death, her husband left a will bequeathing the house in Linh Dong Ward, Thu Duc City, and the land in Duc Hoa District, Long An Province, to her.

Therefore, the plaintiff maintained her initial claim, requesting ownership of the aforementioned properties. She agreed to pay Ms. Anh an amount equivalent to two-thirds of the inheritance portion not subject to the will (according to Article 644 of the 2015 Civil Code), which is approximately over 600 million VND.

In a previous counterclaim, Ms. Ngoc Anh stated that the house in Thu Duc was purchased by her and her son in 2009. Due to her age, health issues, and lack of legal knowledge, she allowed Duc Tien to handle the transaction and be the sole owner for easier processing.

This house, initially a single-story structure with brick walls and a corrugated iron roof, was later rebuilt into a three-story house with their joint financial contributions. She, her son, and Duc Tien's sister have lived there ever since.

Duc Tien married Binh Phuong in 2011. During this time, due to changes in legal policies and the need for a new certificate, her son contacted the authorities for a reissue. The new certificate, issued on 25/4/2011 (10 days after their marriage registration), was in Duc Tien's name. Afterward, Duc Tien and his wife moved to the US, leaving the house under the management of Ms. Anh and Duc Tien's sister, who were responsible for its upkeep and tax payments.

Ms. Anh claimed she not only contributed financially to the purchase but also maintained and preserved the house since her son moved to the US. Duc Tien's wife, unaware of the house's origin and the certificate issuance, mistakenly believed it to be joint marital property.

Regarding the will dated 9/8/2023 presented by Binh Phuong, although notarized in the US, Ms. Anh considered it "inconsistent with Vietnamese law." She requested the court to invalidate the will and claimed 50% of the Thu Duc house's value and 50% of the Long An land's value. She proposed the remaining value be equally divided among the first-degree inheritors: herself, her daughter-in-law, and her grandchild (Duc Tien's child).

Ms. Anh requested ownership of the Thu Duc house and offered to compensate Binh Phuong and her grandchild accordingly.

Due to the defendant's additional counterclaim, the mediation session was adjourned.

Duc Tien, 44, passed away from a heart attack at a hospital in California, US, in May 2024. He was a renowned model in the 2000s, winning the Model Star Gold Cup in South Korea in 2010. He also starred in various TV series such as "Return," "Island Love Story," and "My Husband's Wife."

After marrying Miss Ao Dai Dallas, Binh Phuong, he moved to the US, working as an MC for Vietnamese community programs and events. Before his passing, he established a media and event company and actively participated in shows both domestically and internationally.

Hai Duyen