Kim Tae Hyung, 48, and Cha Jin Young, 50, both South Korean nationals, are slated for trial this December at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on charges of brokering prostitution and bribery.
In connection with the case, Bui Thi Phuong Dung, 36, from Hai Phong, and Bui Duy Ha, 41, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, have been indicted for property appropriation by fraud. Three other individuals are accused of aiding the owners in brokering prostitution.
The indictment states that in November 2022, Kim Tae Hyung and Cha Jin Young jointly invested in opening a restaurant on Bui Thi Xuan street, formerly in District 1, now Pham Ngu Lao ward.
The restaurant operated 30 unlicensed karaoke rooms, catering exclusively to foreign customers, primarily South Koreans. It employed approximately 80 female hostesses, 20 service staff, and several external lookouts who communicated via walkie-talkies.
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The group of South Korean nationals and their accomplices at the time of their arrest. Photo: Nhat Vy |
To boost revenue, Kim Tae Hyung and Cha Jin Young directed restaurant managers Nguyen Thi Ngoc Loan and Lee Hyun Jun, both South Korean nationals, to arrange for female staff to engage in prostitution with South Korean customers.
Under their system, prostitution fees were listed on bills as "Green jacket 17" at 3,8 million dong per person per night. Hotel room rentals were disguised as "Combo hai san lon" (large seafood combo) for one million dong per room.
On 19/7/2023, Lee Hyun Jun instructed Loan to arrange prostitution services for two South Korean men for 7,6 million dong. Loan then contacted Le Tan Thanh, 44, to book two hotel rooms in Ben Nghe ward. Thanh, aware of the rooms' intended use for prostitution, agreed to assist.
Ho Chi Minh City Police later uncovered the operation.
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Security and lookouts were always present outside the Gallery restaurant. Photo: Police handout |
During the investigation, Cha Jin Young admitted that when the Gallery restaurant began operations with incomplete documentation, he enlisted Bui Thi Phuong Dung, whose husband is South Korean, to "handle" the issues.
Dung and Bui Duy Ha subsequently provided false information, promising to "manage" the situation to prevent the restaurant from being inspected by authorities. Trusting them, Kim Tae Hyung and Cha Jin Young repeatedly gave money to Dung, totaling 840 million dong. Dung then transferred 441 million dong to Ha and paid him 30 million dong for his "lobbying" efforts.
Dung and Ha claimed they distributed this money to several officials within the administrative management department of the Ho Chi Minh City Police and District 1. However, investigation results confirmed that neither individual possessed the ability to influence any authorities as promised, ultimately appropriating the funds.
Binh Nguyen
