Ho Chi Minh City: Former provincial official and husband jailed for fraud

A court in Ho Chi Minh City has sentenced a former director of the Department of Home Affairs in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu province and her husband for fraud and asset appropriation. Trần Thị Kim Loan, 60, received a 17-year prison sentence, while her husband, Giang Vinh, 72, who previously held the director position, was sentenced to 9 years.

The charges stem from a scheme where Loan borrowed title deeds for land she had sold to others, subsequently using these deeds to secure loans. According to the indictment, Loan began borrowing large sums of money from various individuals around September 2019, leading to an inability to repay her debts.

To settle debts and fund personal expenses, Loan allegedly misrepresented herself as the director of a bird's nest company. She claimed to need funds for high-interest loans related to bank debt settlement and business operations. Loan also boasted of connections to leaders and sand mining operations, leveraging her husband's former position as Director of the Department of Home Affairs to gain trust from lenders.

One victim, identified as L.T.T.T., transferred 30 billion VND (approximately $1.2 million USD) to Loan for debt repayment and personal use. Loan also borrowed an additional 18.6 billion VND from the same victim by mortgaging nine title deeds belonging to various individuals. She reportedly forged her husband's signature on loan documents, using his reputation to secure the funds.

In a separate transaction, Loan and Vinh signed an agreement to transfer land exceeding 1.7 hectares in Đất Đỏ district to Mr. H.H.L for 5 billion VND. However, part of this land had been reclaimed by the state prior to the transfer. Loan borrowed the title deed back from Mr. L. under the pretext of receiving compensation for the reclaimed portion. After receiving the compensation, Loan and her husband did not return the deed but instead used it to mortgage the land with Mr. D.V.C for a 3 billion VND loan.