On 11/7, Tan My ward police documented the case of a woman who falsely reported a robbery to authorities.
The incident began on the afternoon of 7/7 when the woman's 41-year-old son, Huy, became concerned after being unable to contact his mother. He went to her home in an alley off Nguyen Thi Thap Street and found her lying on the floor with her hands bound with tape, mouth covered, and chili powder on her face.
After being "rescued," the woman claimed a young man had overpowered her, tied her up, and stolen 300 million VND, a down payment she had just received for selling her house. She reported no other items were missing.
Police investigated and reviewed security footage, which revealed the woman entering her home alone that afternoon. She was seen going in and out of the house multiple times, retrieving items from her car trunk. Over an hour later, she pushed her car inside. No suspicious individuals were observed during this time.
Confronted with the evidence, the woman confessed to staging the robbery. She admitted to owing approximately 700 million VND to various creditors and concocted the scheme to avoid their demands for repayment.
In a separate incident, on 3/7, Kim Huy Industrial Park police fined Dang Thi Tuyet Nhi, 28, between 2 and 3 million VND for filing a false report.
Nhi had reported being robbed by two men on a motorbike on D1 Road in the industrial park. She claimed they stole her motorbike, iPhone 15, cash, and identification documents. However, an investigation by Ho Chi Minh City's criminal police, including review of security footage and witness interviews, found no evidence of a robbery.
Nhi subsequently admitted to selling her motorbike and phone for a total of 37 million VND. Fearing her husband's reaction, she fabricated the robbery story.
Falsely reporting a crime can result in a prison sentence of up to 7 years.
According to Ho Chi Minh City's Criminal Police Department, false reports of crimes, incidents, and accidents have been increasing recently, impacting law enforcement and social order. These actions disrupt public order, waste resources, and erode public trust in authorities.
"Intentionally providing false information about cases or incidents to authorities can result in fines from 2 to 15 million VND. More severe cases can lead to criminal prosecution and up to 7 years imprisonment, depending on the severity," the investigative agency warned.
Quoc Thang
