Two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese person were sentenced to a combined total of 20 years in prison for “brokering others to stay unlawfully in Viet Nam” pursuant to the Vietnamese Penal Code.

The defendants at the Tuesday trial

The indictment against the Chinese nationals was announced at the Tuesday trial at the Da Nang People’s Court, which caught a great deal of local public heed.

The offenders were Xiang Yi Ping, 34, and Ma Bing, 24, both from China, and Chau Vy Anh, 29, a resident in Thach Thang Ward, Hai Chau District. Xiang Yi Ping was sentenced to eight years behind bars, whilst Anh and Ma Bing were sentenced to six years in jail for their violations.

Besides, the two Chinese defendants will be deported back to their country immediately after serving their sentences.

On 31 July, 2020, during their surprise raid, Da Nang police officers found eight Chinese people without legitimate visas and passports illegally staying in the Lemon Tree Hotel located in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District.

A probe later revealed that the above hotel was rented by Xiang Yi Ping through his fellow-countryman and managed by Anh since September 2019. On 2 June, 2020, Ma Bing illegally entered Viet Nam and took residence in the hotel. Both Xiang and Anh knew that Ma Bing's visas had expired, but they still allowed him to dwell in the hotel, and collected a monthly rental fee of 8 million VND from this man.

At the end of July 2020, whilst mandatory social distance restrictions for COVID-19 control were being imposed in Da Nang, all serviced accommodation establishments were asked to suspend their operation. In defiance of the rules, Xiang Yi Ping and Anh still allowed Ma Bing to continue his residence at the hotel. Since then, Ma Bing made plans to help many illegal Chinese migrants stay in the hotel.

Between 2 June and 31 July, 2020, Xiang and Anh colluded with Ma to organise for about 15 Chinese to stay at the hotel against the laws.

After collecting room fees from these foreigners, Xiang and Anh paid Ma approximately 200,000 VND (US$8.6) per room per day.

In order to execute the plan, Ma contacted a Chinese man named Lao Zhang via WeChat to arrange locations where he picked up the Chinese border jumpers and brought them to Lemon Tree Hotel.

Xiang also created a group chat on WeChat to exchange information with the illegal Chinese and helped them dodge police inspection.

Xiang and Anh assisted the foreigners in buying food and essential products during their stay.

By XUAN DUNG- Translated by A.T