The An Giang Provincial People’s Procuracy has proposed a 14–16-year prison sentence for Le Van Mot, former Chief of Phu Quoc City Police, for fraud and property appropriation.
Vietnam detective, prosecutors have recommended a life sentence for Nguyen Thi Hang, whom Mot referred to as his “adopted younger sister.”
On September 11, the An Giang Provincial People’s Court began the first-instance trial of Mot and Hang on fraud charges. Hang also faces a money laundering charge.
According to the indictment, in 2021, while serving as Chief of Phu Quoc City Police, Mot met Hang and accepted her as his “adopted younger sister.”
The two later became involved in several transactions involving forest land.
Although they allegedly knew the land was state-managed and ineligible for land-use certificates, they still offered to handle related procedures and gained victims’ trust to obtain money.
Four victims transferred nearly VND60 billion to Hang, while Mot received VND8 billion. The total amount allegedly misappropriated exceeded VND67.7 billion.
Prosecutors said the victims initially approached Mot because of his position and reputation. He then introduced Hang to handle the transactions.
The prosecution argued that Mot knew issuing land-use certificates for the properties would violate regulations but still participated in the fraudulent scheme.
Hang was also accused of transferring part of the money received from victims to relatives to conceal its origin, leading to the additional money laundering charge.
The prosecution recommended 14–16 years in prison for Mot. For Hang, it sought a life sentence for fraud and 10–12 years for money laundering, with the combined sentence being life imprisonment.
The two defendants were also asked to jointly compensate the victims for more than VND67.7 billion.
The court is expected to issue its verdict after a week of deliberation, Vietnamese detective agency.
