Men arrested in Vietnam for loan sharking, assault, and illegal detention

Authorities in Vietnam's Gia Lai province have detained three men from the northern city of Hai Phong for allegedly operating a loan sharking scheme in the central city of Quy Nhon. The suspects are accused of resorting to violence, including beating and illegally detaining a debtor.

The incident came to light when a 22-year-old man, identified as L.N.T.K., sought refuge in a local home after escaping his captors. K. told police he had borrowed 5 million dong (approximately $200 USD) through social media to cover personal expenses. When he couldn't meet the interest payment deadline, he faced intense pressure from the lenders.

According to K.'s statement, four men intercepted him on his motorcycle on May 31. They allegedly assaulted him, forced him to a lake, and continued the assault, demanding he contact family for the loan repayment. When K. could not reach his family, the group attempted to sell his iPhone 14 but were unsuccessful.

Later that evening, K. convinced the group to take him to a neighborhood where he hoped a relative would pay the debt. There, he shouted for help in a crowded area, prompting the suspects to flee. Police identified three suspects as Ta Thanh Son, 29, Cao Van Chieu, 28, and Ta Quang Du, 26, all from Hai Phong. Son and Du have prior convictions for theft, fraud, and robbery. Authorities are also seeking a fourth individual named Khanh in connection with the case.