Scammers who obtain bail swindle billions of dong.
Nguyen Quy Hai provided false information, claiming to have extensive connections with influential figures in judicial agencies and the ability to secure bail for detained defendants. Using this tactic, Hai defrauded numerous victims, appropriating over 1.1 billion VND.
On March 10th, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened the first-instance trial of defendant Nguyen Quy Hai (born in 1985), residing in Kim Lien commune, Nghe An province, on the charge of "Fraudulent appropriation of property".
Nguyen Quy Hai did not have a stable job. Due to debt, Hai conceived the idea of defrauding people by boasting that he could help change the preventive measure from temporary detention to a travel ban for anyone who needed it. To carry out this act, Hai provided information about his extensive connections with people in authority within the judicial agencies.
After receiving money from the victims, Hai did not fulfill his commitments but used it to pay off debts and for personal expenses. Investigators determined that Hai defrauded three victims in Nghe An, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City of a total of over 1.1 billion VND.
Among the victims was Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh H. (born in 1981, residing in Ho Chi Minh City). Ms. H.'s husband was arrested by the police in Vinh City (formerly) for involvement in gambling. Through her connections, she heard that Hai could request a change in the detention measure, so she contacted him.
On December 28, 2023, during a meeting in Nghe An, Hai pledged to request a change in the preventive measure for Ms. H.'s husband from temporary detention to a travel ban for a period of one week. Trusting him, Ms. H. transferred 100 million VND to Hai.
On January 10, 2024, Hai contacted Ms. H., providing false information and urging her to transfer the full amount. Trusting him, Ms. H. transferred an additional 520 million VND. After receiving the money, Hai did not intervene or ask anyone to influence the decision to change the preventive measures, but instead used the money for personal expenses and to pay off bank debts.
After a week, Ms. H. went to Nghe An to pick up her husband, but Hai continued to deceive her, making her wait a few more days. Ms. H. waited but to no avail, so she suspected Hai of deceiving her. At this point, Hai admitted to the fraud, explaining that he had spent all the money and promising to repay it later. Because Hai did not repay the full amount as promised, in August 2025, Ms. H. filed a complaint against Hai with the investigative agency. At the trial, the defendant admitted his crime and expressed remorse.
Before the trial, the defendant had his family compensate the victims for all damages. The victims also submitted petitions requesting a reduced sentence for the defendant.
With several mitigating circumstances, the court sentenced Nguyen Quy Hai to 12 years in prison. Combined with a previous 39-month sentence for gambling, the defendant is required to serve a total of 15 years and 3 months in prison.
