The Da Nang Police Department has successfully dismantled a bribery and fraud network that allegedly offered to “fix” or influence proceedings for suspects involved in a massive money laundering case worth more than 67,000 billion VND (approximately 2.6 billion USD).

According to the police, the Economic Crime Investigation Division arrested and prosecuted five individuals on December 24, including:

Dam Hong Hung (residing in Ho Chi Minh City) – charged with offering bribes.

Nguyen Ta Hien (Ho Chi Minh City), Luu Tran Hien (Ha Tinh Province), and Hoang Van Dung (Da Nang) – charged with bribery brokering.

Tran The Anh (Da Nang) – charged with fraud and property appropriation.

Over 1 billion VND taken to “run a case”

24 12RT1.jpg
The suspects at Da Nang Police Headquarters – Courtesy of Da Nang Police

Investigators found that the suspects conspired to collect more than 1 billion VND (around 40,000 USD) from associates of a suspect in the large-scale laundering case being handled by Da Nang Police.

Tran The Anh, posing as someone with “connections,” allegedly deceived the victims, claiming he could use his influence to intervene and secure favorable outcomes in the case.

After receiving the money, The Anh kept the funds for himself.

Authorities have seized evidence and documents proving the group’s involvement in bribery and fraud.

Background: Vietnam’s largest money laundering case

Earlier, on November 28, Da Nang Police announced the arrest of 33 suspects involved in a vast cross-border money laundering and fraud ring connected to cybercrime groups in Cambodia.

The investigation revealed that the criminal network had laundered a total of 67,000 billion VND, equivalent to 43 million USD, 1.5 million euros, and 1 million Canadian dollars.

Police froze more than 1,000 bank accounts, seized 100 billion VND in cash, two land plots, 15 engraving and printing machines, computers, 500 counterfeit seals, and hundreds of fake identity cards and company registration documents.

The group reportedly colluded with bank employees to open over 1,000 shell company accounts and buy up around 10,000 personal bank accounts, which were later handed over to Cambodian criminal organizations for fraud and laundering operations.

Dozens of victims across Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hung Yen, Lang Son, and Quang Ngai were defrauded, with losses reaching up to 12 billion VND per case.

Authorities say investigations into both the laundering and bribery schemes are continuing.

Ho Giap