At an appeal trial in Hanoi on April 16, Nga and Housing Group were also requested to refund over 240 billion VND (10.5 million USD) to clients. Nga alone has to compensate more than 54 billion VND (2.3 million USD).

According to the court, there had been no competent agencies to assign Housing Group and HAIC Company as investors of the B5 Cau Dien housing project. The adjusted planning of the project had yet been approved and its construction had yet been licensed. Housing Group had not been permitted to mobilise capital paid in advance by those who wanted to buy apartments in the project. 

However, Nga still instructed her eight subordinates to publicise false information about the legal situation and progress of the project, make a model of the project and plant poles at the site. 

The court reduced punishment for Nga’s accomplices who faced the same charge, including former Deputy General Directors of Housing Group Nguyen Truong Son to five years and six months in prison and Le Hong Cuong to three years in jail.

Two former Directors of Housing Group Real Estate Trading Floor Nguyen Thi Tinh and Luu Thi Thuy were jailed for five years and six months, and 24 months respectively. 

Former chief accountant of the firm Pham Thi Thu Hanh will spend 24 months in jail. 

Nguyen Vu Hung, former Deputy General Director of Housing Group was granted a suspended sentence of 30 months. Meanwhile, Phan Thanh Tuyen, former Deputy General Director of Housing Group, and Doan Thanh Thuy, former acting chief accountant of Housing Group both got suspended sentences of 24 months. -VNA