On 11/12, Dinh Thi Thanh Tuyen, 32, a former flight attendant, was convicted by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City for brokering prostitution, under Article 328 of the Penal Code.

Zhang Lei, 40, Tuyen's partner, received a sentence of three years and six months for the same offense. Five other defendants were sentenced to three years to three years and six months for their involvement.

According to the Trial Panel, the defendants had no aggravating circumstances and made frank confessions. The court considered Tuyen's ethnic minority background and Zhang Lei's status as a foreigner with limited legal understanding as mitigating factors, reducing their sentences.

Defendant Dinh Thi Thanh Tuyen (center) and her accomplices listen to the verdict. Binh Nguyen

Defendant Dinh Thi Thanh Tuyen (center) and her accomplices listen to the verdict. Binh Nguyen

The verdict stated that around 5/2022, Zhang Lei and Tuyen, who lived together as husband and wife, acquired the Tai Nguyen Fortuner II restaurant on Tran Hung Dao street, District 5, to operate a food and karaoke business. Initially, Zhang Lei directly managed the establishment, with Tuyen joining him in management in 2/2023.

To facilitate operations, Tuyen and her boyfriend recruited Nguyen Huu Chi as general manager, Nguyen Quoc Anh to oversee female servers, Do Xuan Hoang as supervisor, Diem and Lieu as server managers, Tu Hung to manage male staff, La Thi Dieu and Le Huynh Hieu Hanh to manage female employees, Dinh Ngoc Bao as a server, and Do Thi Hong Yen as cashier.

During meetings, Zhang Lei and Tuyen agreed to allow female servers to engage in prostitution outside the restaurant to attract more customers and increase profits. This service was exclusively offered to Chinese, Malaysian, and Taiwanese clients. When customers expressed interest, they contacted Nguyen Quoc Anh to arrange a server. The price was 4 million VND for a single session and increased to 7 million VND for an overnight stay.

The prostitution ring at Tai Nguyen Fortuner II restaurant operated with a structured process. Each day, Hoang recorded the ID numbers and names of servers in a logbook, asking if they were willing to engage in prostitution. Those who agreed had their names written in uppercase, while those who declined had their names written in lowercase. This list was then reported by Hoang to Chi, Quoc Anh, Diem, and Lieu, after which Chi forwarded it to a Telegram group for managers and owners to monitor the situation.

When customers requested a server, Quoc Anh led them to a room where servers were divided into two lines: one for those willing to engage in prostitution and another for those who were not, allowing customers to choose. If a customer wished to purchase sex, the server would inform a manager for tracking and arrangement. Before 10:30 PM, servers wanting to leave early for prostitution had to submit a written request for Chi's approval, which was then presented to Hoang. Between 10:30 PM and 12 AM, they had to report to Quoc Anh; upon approval, Quoc Anh would provide the ID number to Hoang to authorize their departure from the restaurant.

On the evening of 17/10/2023, two groups of Chinese customers visited the restaurant for food and then arranged to purchase sex from five servers for 7 million VND each. The employees then escorted them to a nearby hotel. Simultaneously, Ho Chi Minh City Police raided the restaurant and the hotels, catching five servers in the act of prostitution.

Defendant Zhang Lei (far right) and his accomplices listen to the verdict. Binh Nguyen

Defendant Zhang Lei (far right) and his accomplices listen to the verdict. Binh Nguyen

In court, Tuyen and the other defendants admitted to the misconduct as stated in the indictment. Zhang Lei explained that he came to Vietnam seeking business opportunities and had opened a freight forwarding company. He clarified that he acquired the restaurant with several compatriots to serve customers and find partners.

However, after operating the restaurant for a period, some investors withdrew their capital, causing him financial difficulties. The number of customers also decreased significantly, leading him and Tuyen to agree to allow employees to engage in prostitution to increase revenue. However, Zhang Lei and Tuyen maintained that they did not directly profit from brokering prostitution.

Regarding the 20 billion VND seized by police during the search of his home, Zhang Lei stated that this money was transferred to him by his mother for business investments. During the investigation, his mother successfully reclaimed the funds. The over 200 million VND seized at the restaurant was also returned to his family.

Binh Nguyen