Late repentance of a former doctor who lost everything due to fraud

Lost billions to "run" medical school for child

Around November 2018, Ms. Tran Thi Kim H. (residing in Vinh City) took her son to Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy to submit his application and met Tran Van Quan (born in 1987), residing in Vinh City.

Through meeting and talking, Quan introduced himself as working at the 108 Military Central Hospital, having a close relationship with the school's Principal, and would certainly help her child get admitted to this university at a cost of 350 million VND. Trusting her, Mrs. H. quickly gave Quan the full amount of money. After receiving 350 million, Quan did not do anything related to the entrance exam and going to school but spent it all on personal expenses.

After spending all the money, Quan contacted Mrs. H. to convince her to transfer her son to another school because it would be more convenient for commuting. Quan promised that after graduating, her son would be able to work at the 108 Military Central Hospital, on the condition that he would be given an additional 650 million VND. Without any doubt, within 3 months, Mrs. H. gave Quan the full amount of money.

Because they had discussed it in advance, Quan gave Tran Anh Tuan (born in 1984), a resident of Xuan Hai commune, Nghi Xuan district (Ha Tinh), a doctor working at the Nghe An Vaccination Center, 340 million VND "to take care of the admission", and spent the rest of the money on personal expenses. Tuan also spent all the money after receiving Quan's money.

After spending billions of dong, Mrs. H. was sure that her child had been accepted to medical school and would later have the job she wanted. However, waiting for a long time without seeing her child enroll in school made her worried.

This woman kept urging Quan, asking for the reason. At this time, Quan and Tuan thought of another way to get money by asking Mrs. H. to give them another 100 million VND to "run" into a famous medical university in Thai Binh. Just like the previous times, Mrs. H. immediately "shot" money into Quan's account.

During the trial, Tran Anh Tuan sat with his hands clasped and his head bowed many times. Photo: Tran Vu

To deceive Mrs. H. in December 2020, Tuan hired a woman (name and address unknown) to make a fake admission notice and then sent a picture of that admission notice to Quan to send to Mrs. H. When she saw her child had an admission notice, the mother was extremely happy but did not know that she had fallen into the scammers' trap. Only after a long time of waiting did she realize she had been scammed and filed a police report.

Ms. H. is just one of many victims in the fraud carried out by Tran Anh Tuan and Tran Van Quan. Tuan is the chief doctor working at the Nghe An Vaccination Center, while Quan does not have a stable job. Although both of them do not have the function or responsibility in arranging jobs, they discussed and agreed to receive money from workers applying for jobs, recruiting them to work, and studying at agencies, units, and organizations such as Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 108 Military Central Hospital, Nghe An Tax Department...

Both agreed that Quan would be responsible for finding and receiving money from the workers, while Tuan would hire someone to make fake employee cards, name stamps for Quan, labor contracts, labor contract appendices, fake interview evaluation tables, etc. to provide for Quan's use. Quan then forwarded the fake labor contracts to the victims to create trust.

Defendants Tuan (right) and Quan in court. Photo: Tran Vu

During the period from December 2018 to March 2021, when approaching the victims, Quan introduced himself as working in the human resources recruitment department of Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company, having a close relationship with the company's leaders, "guaranteed passing" for job applicants. Then, Quan asked the job applicants to pay a fee.

The defendants' actions were very sophisticated when they rented a large hall right in the center of Vinh city to organize fake interviews with workers. These interviews were all arranged by Tuan and Quan, similar to real recruitment interviews, making the victims believe.

Besides, Quan also introduced himself as knowing many leaders of other agencies, departments and sectors who could help workers find jobs and study at universities.

The investigation agency determined that Quan and Tuan together committed 18 acts of fraud to obtain jobs and admission to universities for 51 workers and students, appropriating more than 3.67 billion VND. Of which, Quan appropriated more than 2.2 billion VND, and Tuan appropriated nearly 1.4 billion VND.

Repentance oforiginalchief physician

At the trial, the two defendants Tran Anh Tuan and Tran Van Quan for the crime of Fraudulent appropriation of property, both defendants honestly admitted their crimes. Both admitted that they had no function or duty in arranging jobs but had discussed and agreed with each other to defraud many people, the purpose was to get money to spend.

During the trial, Tuan often clasped his hands together and bowed his head, expressing remorse. “Because I was caught up in money, I lost myself, lost my job, and made my relatives and parents ashamed,” Tuan stated in court. In the presence of his relatives and the victims, Tuan choked up and said: “I am sorry to my family. My parents raised me and sent me to school to become a doctor. I should have cultivated my ethics and career to treat and save people, but because of greed, I defrauded, causing great financial and mental losses to many people. I sincerely apologize to the victims.”

Victims attending the trial. Photo: Tran Vu

After the incident was exposed, Tuan persuaded the family to partially compensate the victims for their losses. At the trial, the victims requested that the two defendants return the entire amount of money they had embezzled.

Considering that in this case, the defendant Tuan had many mitigating circumstances such as his honest confession and remorse. In addition, during his work, the defendant Tuan also had many outstanding achievements and was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. The defendant's father had contributed to the revolution and was awarded the Third Class Labor Medal by the State. Therefore, the court sentenced the defendant Tran Anh Tuan to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, Tran Van Quan was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the same crime of Fraudulent appropriation of property.

Once having money, fame and a job that many people dream of, Tuan lost it all because of greed and chasing after money...