The trial will commence on the morning of 26/5 at the Gia Lai Provincial People's Court headquarters on Le Loi street, Quy Nhon ward. Pham Anh Tai, also known as Tai "Den", 36, and Le Van An, 35, are both being tried for three crimes: robbery, illegal storage and use of military weapons, and money laundering.

Tai "Den", a gangster with a history of convictions, has been wanted since 2018 after an incident where he and his accomplices used an AK rifle to shoot and kill two people at a bar.

At the time of the bank robbery, An was also being sought by police in connection with a case of intentional injury.

Tai "Den" (right) and An at the time of their arrest. Photo: Police provided

According to the indictment, in late 2023, while evading arrest, Tai purchased firearms and ammunition, storing them at his hideout in Hamlet two, Dak Cam ward, Quang Ngai province.

In 10/2025, Tai called An to a rented room in Gia Lai province, inviting him to participate in a bank robbery. An agreed and moved in to plan the heist.

According to case files, Tai directly prepared the guns, intending for "each person to carry one gun" during the crime. The two also agreed to change their clothes frequently to avoid identification.

The motorcycle used as the getaway vehicle also had its license plate changed and paint color altered.

After days of scouting the area together, they devised an escape plan that Tai considered "extremely perfect." The chosen target was Vietcombank's Tra Ba transaction office at 133 Truong Chinh street, Hoi Phu ward, Gia Lai province.

A pine hill area within the Dien Phu industrial park, about 5 km from the bank, was chosen as the location to hide, destroy, and bury the vehicle after the robbery.

Finalizing their plan, at approximately 15:00 on 19/1, Tai and An changed clothes, loaded two handguns, and concealed them on their persons. Before leaving, they also pre-lifted a wooden plank covering a pit in the pine hill area, intending to return and bury their spoils "as quickly as possible" after the robbery.

About 15 minutes later, An drove an Exciter motorcycle, carrying Tai from the pine hill area, through Le Thanh Ton and Luong Dinh Cua streets to the Tra Ba transaction office.

According to the indictment, both men, armed with K59 and K54 guns, stormed into the Vietcombank transaction office, threatened staff, and robbed over 1.85 billion dong.

After the crime, Tai and An took all the money to Ho Chi Minh City to buy gold, then transported it to the former Binh Duong province area for sale to conceal its origin.

From the afternoon of 21/1, the two separated and fled, each carrying approximately 910 million dong.

The getaway vehicle hidden in a deep pit. Photo: Police provided

Recognizing this as a particularly serious case involving firearms, the Ministry of Public Security established a special task force. Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Head of the Investigation Police Agency, Ministry of Public Security, was appointed as its leader.

Lieutenant General Tran Ngoc Ha, Director of the Criminal Police Department (C02), served as the permanent deputy head.

Following an extensive investigation, An and Tai were apprehended on the evening of 4/2 and the afternoon of 5/2, respectively.

In addition to this case, C02 has determined that Tai, An, and their accomplices were involved in other particularly serious cases, including murder, robbery, extortion, illegal storage and use of military weapons, and concealing crimes. C02 is continuing to work with the Quang Ngai and Gia Lai Provincial Police to clarify these matters.