On July 24th, the Investigation Agency of the Go Vap District Police announced the initiation of prosecution against Luong Hoang Gia and Tan Cheng Khung (Ken) for “using computer networks, telecommunication networks, and electronic devices to appropriate assets.”
According to the Investigation Agency, on May 24, 2024, they received a crime report from Nguyen Thi Tuyet Th. alleging that Luong Hoang Gia, a credit department employee at Bank A.’s Thach Da transaction office in Go Vap District, had logged into her account and appropriated nearly VND 8 billion.
In his statement to the police, Gia confessed that as a credit specialist in charge of customer loan applications, he was responsible for handling Nguyen Thi Tuyet Th.’s loan application, which was secured by a house located on Pham Van Chieu Street, Ward 14, Go Vap District. The approved loan amount was VND 8 billion. Gia had opened an account for Th. to receive the disbursed funds.
Taking advantage of his direct involvement in the customer’s loan application, Gia was aware that the disbursement would be made as soon as the registration procedures for the mortgaged property were completed. With the intention of appropriating the money to pay off his debts, Gia noticed that Th. was not tech-savvy. He then guided her to open a bank account and register for mobile banking. During the consultation process, he obtained her online banking login information and password.
To carry out the appropriation, Gia contacted Tan Cheng Khung, requesting assistance from a criminal group in Cambodia to withdraw money from Th.’s account, promising a reward of VND 1.2 billion.
Subsequently, the criminal group transferred the VND 8 billion from Th.’s account through multiple banks and withdrawals. Tan Cheng Khung was also directly involved in transferring and withdrawing money, but he attempted to cover his tracks by disposing of his phone in a canal immediately after each transaction.
The investigation agency has recovered more than VND 3 billion in damages and is continuing to verify the remaining amount.