Fake tycoon who tricked little girl into love gets another crime

On the afternoon of April 2, the People's Court of District 12 (HCMC) sentenced Pham Van Tri to 3 years and 6 months in prison for the crimes of theft of property, sexual intercourse with children and was forced to compensate the victim 30 million VND.

At his court appearance four months ago, he was only charged with Fraudulent Appropriation of Property.

According to the panel of judges, Tri did not commit any fraudulent acts to appropriate the victim’s property. After inviting the girl to the hotel, the defendant asked the victim to give him money and a phone to keep, then stole it. At the time of the sexual intercourse, the victim was under 15 years old and therefore must bear criminal responsibility.

The investigation results determined,Tri used the fake name Hang Nguyen on Facebook and met a girl in Vung Tau. He lied that he had a rich businessman friend who wanted to hire her as his girlfriend for 150 million VND for 5 days, but she refused.

The next day, Tri, claiming to be a businessman in Da Nang, called the girl and said he was going to Saigon for a vacation and needed a girlfriend to talk to and take him shopping. He said Hang Nguyen had introduced him to hire her, the price was negotiable, but she still refused.

He asked her to introduce him to a friend and was given Han's phone number (15 years old). When Tri called, she thought he was a rich man so she agreed.

Tri took Han to a hotel, using the excuse that he had been cheated out of all his money by many girls without fulfilling the "contract", he asked the young woman to give him all her assets including 10 million VND, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad... "as a guarantee". SAfter "confiding", Tri waited for Han to fall asleep and then ran away with all her property.

A few days later, Tri took Han's phone and texted another girl with the same trick. He told her to bring 15 million VND to thank Hang Nguyen. This girl agreed.Rent a hotel in Tan Binh district to wait for the "rich man".

Tri asked someone to meet her to get the money, but he was arrested by the police. From the hotel camera footage, the police arrested Tri. He was later prosecuted for fraud.

Last November, Tri was brought to trial by the District 12 People's Court. However, the trial was adjourned for investigation.He added the crime of Sexual Intercourse with a Child.