200 million VND ransom paid to rescue child from "job selling and human trafficking" ring.

The recent trial in Ho Chi Minh City for the case of "organizing or facilitating the illegal escape or stay of others abroad" has brought the issue of workers falling prey to easy jobs with high salaries back into the spotlight.

According to the case file, Pham Hong Nhac (26 years old, from Lam Dong province) was sentenced to 9 months in prison for "fraudulent appropriation of property" when he was only 18 years old. In 2018, Nhac was again fined administratively by the Da Teh District Police (Lam Dong province) for disturbing public order.

200 triệu đồng chuộc con từ đường dây bán việc, buôn người - 1 — Defendant Nhac (in the middle) and his accomplices at the court (Photo: XD).

In March 2022, Nhac returned to Ho Chi Minh City to work as a bus assistant, living together as husband and wife with Hoang Thi Thao (29 years old, from Lam Dong province). While working, Nhac was asked by a woman named Mai (a passenger, whose background is unknown) to find people to take to Cambodia to work in casinos with a salary of 20 to 30 million VND per month.

For each person successfully smuggled into Cambodia, Nhạc received 5 million dong from Mai. Mai gave Nhạc the phone number of a man named Hùng (also known as Lão Đại or Sói Đêm) to contact when he found a "target".

Seeing a lucrative business opportunity, Nhac readily agreed and then enlisted his "common-law wife" and Tran Hoai Thuong (23 years old, from Ho Chi Minh City) to plan the search for people in need.

In just a few months, with the strong support of his mistress and Thuong, Nhac managed to smuggle 7 people across the border into Cambodia to work and received 30 million dong in return. Among them were Mr. Le Phat T. and Ms. Huynh Phan Thanh T.

Specifically, on May 21, 2022, three individuals lured Mr. T. and Ms. T. to Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs. After they agreed, Nhac immediately called Lao Dai to pick up Mr. T. and several others, transporting them to Cambodia via an unofficial border crossing.

Upon arrival, Mr. T., along with several compatriots, was taken to a casino owned by Chinese nationals. There, Mr. T. was assigned by the manager, Dai Hi, to carry out online fraud with a salary of 600 USD for the first month, 200 USD for subsequent months, and a 10% commission on revenue.

After two months of working, Mr. T. found the job unsuitable, frequently subjected to beatings, electric shocks, threats, and forced labor, so he expressed his desire to return to Vietnam. The company agreed on the condition that he compensate them with 130 million VND.

On July 25, 2022, Tài called his father, Mr. G., asking for help and informing him that the ransom was 130 million VND. After investigating, Mr. G. sought assistance from the "Hai Street Knights" group. Hai introduced Mr. G. to a man named Pham Van Hung. After negotiations, Tài's father agreed to transfer nearly 200 million VND to Hung for Tài's release.

After receiving the money, the company took Mr. T. to a hotel in Cambodia and sent his photos and location to Hung. Upon receiving the information, Hung instructed Mr. T. to stay at the hotel and then arranged for a car to pick him up and bring him back to Vietnam via an unofficial border crossing.

On August 1, 2022, Hung brought Mr. T. back to Vietnam and handed him over to Mr. G. After returning to the country, the victim reported the actions of Nhac's group. The Ho Chi Minh City police quickly launched an investigation and successively arrested and detained Thao, Thuong, and Nhac.

At the trial, Pham Hong Nhac was sentenced to 7 years in prison, Tran Hoai Thuong to 6 years in prison, and Hoang Thi Thao to 5 years in prison.

During the investigation, authorities determined that "knight" Nguyen Thanh Hai had entered and exited the country 40 times (the last time on January 16, 2022) and had not been subject to any administrative penalties, therefore there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him for the crime of "Violating regulations on exit and entry".

In addition, a man named Hung received money to bring Mr. T. back to Vietnam via an unofficial route, but his identity remains unknown to this day under investigation.

Therefore, there is no basis to determine whether these individuals are involved in organizing illegal emigration or stay abroad for others. Currently, the Security Investigation Agency of the Ho Chi Minh City Police is continuing to investigate and clarify the matter.

Authorities are continuing their investigation and search for the man named Hung (Lao Dai) and the woman named Mai, whose identities have not yet been verified.

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