On 23/8, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Da Nang City Police announced they had transferred four suspects to the Gia Lai Provincial Police. The suspects, Thai Van Hoa (38, from Quang Ngai), Le Van Minh Hoang, Nguyen Tuan Dung, and Phan Hoang Duy (aged 14-21, all residing in Da Nang), are being investigated for human trafficking, extortion, and unlawful detention.

The scene at the time of the victim's rescue. Photo: Police provided

The ordeal began when Nga (14, residing in Gia Lai) was lured by Tuan Bi, who rents a room on Hoang Van Thu Street (Quy Nhon ward), into borrowing 10 million VND with a high interest rate. Unable to repay the debt, she was forced to work as a karaoke bar hostess for Tuan Bi. Later, she was sold to several other establishments.

Around 4:05 a.m. on 17/8, Nga called her mother, informing her that she was being beaten and forced to pay her debt, or face being sold again. Her parents contacted the group holding her and were asked to pay a 50 million VND ransom.

At 10:00 a.m. the same day, someone using Nga's Facebook account messaged her mother, increasing the ransom demand to 60 million VND. They claimed the increase was due to the added cost of hiring "gangsters" to find Nga. The group said they were taking Nga to Hoi An (Da Nang City) and would send the address upon arrival for the family to deliver the money.

When Nga’s parents requested to speak with her directly, the call was disconnected. After several failed attempts to reach her, they reported the incident to the Gia Lai Provincial Police's Criminal Investigation Department.

At 3:00 p.m. on 21/8, the Da Nang City Police's Criminal Investigation Department received a request for cooperation from the Gia Lai Police. Investigators located the suspects in Duy Vinh commune, Da Nang city.

Nga's family then contacted her captors and arranged to deliver the ransom at a restaurant on Hung Vuong Street, Nam Phuoc commune. When Thai Van Hoa and his accomplices arrived to collect the money, police apprehended them and successfully rescued Nga. The four suspects subsequently confessed to their crimes.

Ngoc Truong

* The victim's name has been changed