The Da Nang People's Court on Thursday opened a first-instance trial and sentenced Hoang Thi Thao, 37, hailing from Gia Cat Commune, Cao Loc District, Lang Son Province, to 14 years in prison for fraudulent appropriation of property.

Defendant Hoang Thi Thao is seen at court. Photo: L.H.

According to an indictment, in 2018, Thao was acquainted with a Chinese man of unknown origin named Hoa through the introduction of Hoang Thi Diep from Mai Thanh Village, Mai Pha Commune, Lang Son City, Lang Son Province.

Hoa asked Thao to seek bank accounts to receive money fraudulently appropriated from others. Hoa and Thao reached an agreement that holders of bank accounts which were used to receive fraudulently appropriated money were paid VND500,000 per transaction. In addition, each of them received an additional VND1 million for every VND100 million transferred to the account.

Meanwhile, when Thao withdrawed money and transfered it to Hoa, she was paid VND400,000/ time. Also, she got an additional VND600,000 for every VND100 million converted into RMB.

Hoa asked not to use Thao's bank account, but to find someone else to provide their bank account numbers to receive money fraudulently appropriated by others in order to avoid detection by the authorities.

When victim transfered money, Hoa sent a message to notify the amount of money or attach a picture of the victim's money transfer receipt to Thao so that Thao could withdraw the money and then gave it to Hoa.

From July 13, 2018 to October 19, 2018, Thao used bank accounts in the names of N.T.B., N.K.O., and M.T.H. to receive and appropriate money from 11 victims with an amount of more than VND1.76 billion.

In the end, the municipal People's Court sentenced Thao to 14 years in prison for fraudulent appropriation of property, and urged her to return the amount of money to the victims.

Reporting by LE HUNG - Translating by M.DUNG