Tech-driven motorbike taxi driver pretends to be a police officer to 'run away' a case

Trust this man's promise to help “run the case"To let their family members escape punishment, from October 26 to October 28, Ms. Ha and Ms. Hoa gave this man a total of more than 53 million VND four times...

The Investigation Police Agency of Cau Giay District Police (Hanoi) has just received a complaint from Ms. Phung Thu Ha and Ms. Le Thi Hoa, both residing in Tam Nong District, Phu Tho Province (who are relatives of the two defendants in the case of intentional injury, for which the Investigation Police Agency of Cau Giay District Police has initiated a criminal case, prosecuted the defendants and is currently detained at Detention Center No. 1 of Hanoi City Police) about being defrauded by a subject impersonating a police officer of Cau Giay District for more than 53 million VND, in order to request bail for the two defendants, who are relatives of the two women.

Subject Nguyen Minh Cuong at the police station. Photo: CAND

According to Ms. Ha’s report, on October 26, she called a man dressed as a Grab motorbike taxi driver to go to the Cau Giay District Police Headquarters. On the way, she talked to the Grab driver about her family member being detained at the Cau Giay District Police. The man told her that he was a Cau Giay District Police officer in disguise, and boasted that he could get her family member released on bail.

To gain trust, this man named Cuong wore police pants, shoes, and socks, and asked Ms. Ha and Ms. Hoa to come to the main gate of Cau Giay District Police to "work". Trusting this man's promise to help "run the case" for their family members to escape punishment, from October 26 to October 28, Ms. Ha and Ms. Hoa gave this man 4 times, a total of more than 53 million VND.

Realizing that the case is sensitive, complicated, and takes advantage of the name of an organization or individual, causing negative impacts on the police force, the Cau Giay District Police Command has directed the Criminal Police Team (CSHS) to mobilize forces to urgently investigate and clarify the subject who committed the act of fraud and property appropriation to strictly handle it before the law.

Applying synchronous professional measures, the Criminal Police Team quickly identified the suspect as Nguyen Minh Cuong (born in 1972), registered residence in Luu Phai village, Ngu Hiep commune, Thanh Tri district, Hanoi. When the detectives arrived at the above address, Cuong had sold his house and moved elsewhere. Using professional measures, on November 17, the Criminal Police Team of Cau Giay District Police identified Cuong as currently renting a room in My Dinh 1 ward, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi and organized the arrest.

During the investigation, Cau Giay District Police determined that Nguyen Minh Cuong had committed two cases of "Fraudulent appropriation of property" by impersonating a police officer.

According to the police agency's documents, Nguyen Minh Cuong was a citizen serving a limited term of duty in the People's Public Security Forces, but has since been discharged and is currently a Grab driver. On October 26, while driving Ms. Ha to the Cau Giay District Police Headquarters, Cuong learned that Ms. Ha's family members were being detained at the Cau Giay District Police Detention Center. Cuong had the intention of defrauding and appropriating Ms. Ha's property.

During an emergency search of Nguyen Minh Cuong's rented accommodation at Group 15, Tan My Ward, My Dinh 1, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi, Cau Giay District Police seized 1 set of police uniform, 2 phones and 12 million VND.

Expanding the investigation, the Investigation Police Agency of Cau Giay District Police clarified that around April 2020, Nguyen Minh Cuong also committed fraud by applying for a job in the police force, appropriating 7 million VND from Nguyen Van Hoang. Regarding police clothes, shoes, and hats, Nguyen Minh Cuong said he bought them on the market from an unknown person.

Currently, the Investigation Police Agency of Cau Giay District Police has prosecuted and ordered a 3-month detention of Nguyen Minh Cuong to investigate and handle the act of fraud and property appropriation.

The Cau Giay District Police Investigation Agency also requests that anyone who is a victim of Nguyen Minh Cuong, please contact the Cau Giay District Police Investigation Agency to provide information.