Operator of 6-ton gold smuggling ring recommended 17-18 years in prison

The representative of the People's Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City proposed sentencing defendant Nguyen Thi Minh Phung, the operator of the gold bar trading ring imported from Cambodia to Vietnam, to 17-18 years in prison for "smuggling".

Defendant Nguyen Thi Minh Phung (right) at the trial

On the afternoon of July 17, Ho Chi Minh City People's Court continued to try defendant Nguyen Thi Minh Phung (born in 1981, from Binh Dinh) and 23 accomplices for the crime of "Smuggling".

Court scene on the afternoon of July 17

Representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy have indicted and proposed sentences for the defendants. Based on the case file and the questioning process in court, the Procuracy assessed that there was sufficient basis to determine that the indictment against 24 defendants for smuggling was well-founded, against the right people and the right crimes.

According to the indictment, in 2022, Phung operated a gold bar trading line imported from Cambodia to Vietnam, operating closely from the purchasing, transportation to consumption stages. Phung received the needs of domestic customers and contacted subjects in Cambodia to place orders.

Phung assigned Nguyen Thi Ngoc Giau (born in 1980, from Tay Ninh ) to organize the transportation of money and gold across the border. Giau's group hid gold under the floor of a three-wheeled vehicle carrying ice to transport it across the border. From August 3, 2022 to September 28, 2022, Phung smuggled 4,830 kg of gold bars, worth VND 6,644 billion, profiting VND 17.6 billion. Of which, Phung collected VND 2.4 billion, Giau VND 13.8 billion and 20 other defendants shared the rest. A similar smuggling ring led by Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong (born in 1985, Giau's younger sister) smuggled 1,320 kg of gold bars, worth more than VND 1,800 billion.

Representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy have indicted and proposed sentences for the defendants.

The representative of the Procuracy stated that the defendants were all knowledgeable and aware of the law, but for the sake of profit, they participated in the gold smuggling ring with specific assigned tasks and roles. The defendants smuggled a large amount of gold, more than 6 tons, worth more than 8,000 billion VND, causing negative impacts on the stability of the gold market and affecting state management in this field.

From there, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy proposed sentencing the ringleaders: Nguyen Thi Minh Phung to 17-18 years in prison, Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong to 15-16 years in prison, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Giau to 17-18 years in prison. The remaining defendants were recommended to be sentenced from a minimum of 5 years in prison to a maximum of 14 years in prison, all for the crime of "Smuggling".

Regarding civil liability, it is proposed to order the defendants to return all the illegal profits; to confiscate the money and gold seized during the search related to the crime and the amount of money paid to remedy the consequences; to continue to maintain the attachment and freezing of assets in the case to ensure the execution of the judgment.

Seizing a series of assets of the owner of Phuc Hang gold shop

In this case, Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Hang (owner of Phuc Hang gold shop) bought 293kg of smuggled gold from Phung, with a total value of nearly 400 billion VND. On September 26, 2022, Ms. Hang left the country, so the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency decided to arrest her. On January 25, the Investigation Police Agency decided to temporarily suspend the investigation of Ms. Hang, and will handle her when she is arrested.

The Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency has seized a series of real estates belonging to Ms. Hang in Hoan Kiem District, Tay Ho District, Hai Ba Trung District ( Hanoi ), Tan Binh District, District 3 and District 5 (Ho Chi Minh City); frozen 430 million VND in Ms. Hang's account and prevented transactions and transfers of many other real estates. In addition, the Ministry of Public Security issued an official dispatch to prevent transactions and transfers of 3 real estates in Long Bien District (Hanoi) of defendant Dang Nam Trung (Ms. Hang's younger brother).

THANH CHUNG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nguoi-dieu-hanh-duong-day-nhap-lau-6-tan-vang-bi-de-nghi-17-18-nam-tu-post749784.html