VietNamNet Bridge – Anticipating that the mortal sins they committed would cast them into prison, a lot of “big bosses” tried to escape over the border. The US proves to be the most wanted destination.

The unsuccessful escapes

Analysts have noted that the number of Vietnamese criminals trying to flee abroad to escape the punishment has been increasing rapidly.

The criminals, mostly prosecuted for the charges of drug trafficking, embezzlement, and corruption, have been “supported” by the strong development of the science and technology, convenient transport means and easier immigration procedures.

Duong Chi Dung, former President of the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), tried to escape over the border to the US. With the assistance of his brother, a police lieutenant colonel, Dung fled to the neighboring country Cambodia, from which he planned to fly to Singapore and then to the US with a counterfeit passport.

However, Dung failed to implement his plan. He was arrested by the Cambodian and Vietnamese police and brought back to Vietnam after four months of running away.

Dung has been sentenced to death, while his brother, who helped Dung run away, has been sentenced to 18-year imprisonment.

Huynh Thi Huyen Nhu, called as “superb swindler”, charged with “swindling to appropriate assets” and “counterfeiting seals and materials of agencies and organizations,” also admitted that she applied for a visa to the US in an attempt to escape the anticipated prosecution.

Nhu said before the court that she spent VND18 billion to obtain a visa to the US as a traveler. However, Nhu was arrested before he tried to implement the plan.

The indictment read before the court showed that in July 2011, Nhu gave $500,000 to a woman in the US to seek the woman’s support to apply for a “green card.” However, Nhu still could not get the thing she wanted because of the document problems.

The “soft landing”

While Dung and Nhu failed to commit their escapes, many other criminals were luckier. They are now leading peaceful lives in foreign countries, because they know that it would be not easy for the Vietnamese police to catch and punish them.

In September 2012, five executives of PVC-ME, a mechanical engineering company, were prosecuted. Trinh Van Thao, the former general director, was charged with “deliberately breaking the laws and causes serious consequences.”

Thao and his accomplices played tricks to appropriate the state’s money, thus making PVC-ME incur serious losses.

However, Thao did not turn up at the court, because he reportedly left Vietnam for the US on July 31, 2012. He has been hunted all over the world.  

Local newspapers some days ago reported that Lam Ngoc Khuan, President of Phuong Nam, a seafood company, has escaped, leaving a huge debt of VND1.6 trillion.

In early 2012, when the creditors came to Phuong Nam to ask for debt payment, they were told that the president left for the US for medicinal treatment. Later, they found that Khuan’s family members all have left Vietnam as well.

Ho Ngoc Tung, former finance director of the former Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) and Giang Kim Dat, former head of business division of VInashin’s shipping firm have also been put in the wanted list by Interpol.

Khanh Chi