HCMC banker hires Cambodian criminals to steal $316,000 from customer

Luong Hoang Gia, a 33-year-old bank employee in Ho Chi Minh City, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating the theft of VND8 billion ($316,170) from a customer’s account by hiring Cambodian criminals. His accomplice, 37-year-old Tan Cheng Khung, has also been detained by the Go Vap District police for "appropriation of property using a computer network, telecommunications network or electronic device."

The incident came to light when a woman named Tuyet reported to the police that VND8 billion, recently lent by the bank, had been stolen from her account. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the funds had been transferred to several accounts with fake addresses. Suspicion fell on Gia, who worked in the credit department at the bank’s Go Vap branch and had assisted Tuyet with the loan process.

Gia confessed that he exploited Tuyet's lack of technological expertise to access her bank account information. He then collaborated with Tan to involve Cambodian criminal gangs, promising them VND1.2 billion for their assistance. The criminals withdrew the money and transferred it across multiple banks. Tan attempted to cover their tracks by discarding his phone into a canal after the transactions.

Authorities have successfully frozen several bank accounts and recovered over VND3 billion of the stolen funds. The investigation is ongoing.