Former HCMC cop charged with extortion in prostitution scam

A former police officer in Ho Chi Minh City has been charged with fraud and appropriation of property for allegedly pocketing $67,000 in protection money from a restaurant owner involved in prostitution. The owner faces charges of procuring prostitution and bribery. Nguyen Dinh Thong, 53, claimed he paid former officer Ha Manh Truong, 43, to shield illicit activities at his two restaurants on Tran Quang Khai Street in Tan Dinh Ward. Thong is set to stand trial at the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on September 22 for procuring prostitution and bribery. Truong is charged with "fraud" and "appropriation of property." Three other defendants who managed Thong's restaurants have also been charged with "procuring prostitution." According to the indictment, Thong appointed Dong Trong Le, 48, as general manager and Vo Phuc Chau, 36, as deputy general manager of the two establishments. Starting in February 2024, they allegedly allowed female hostesses to engage in prostitution. Thong and Le reportedly visited the facilities once or twice a month to instruct managers on operations, including arranging for hostesses to have sex with customers. The hostesses negotiated directly with customers, charging between VND2.5 million and VND3 million ($105-$126) per encounter and keeping the entire amount. Managers received 20% of the room bills they booked, plus additional money from customers when they arranged the services. On the night of November 7, 2024, HCMC police inspected two hotels in Phu Nhuan District and caught several hostesses from Thong's restaurants having sex with customers. Case records show Thong profited the most, earning VND125 million ($5,260). Le received more than VND28 million ($1,180), Chau collected over VND3.7 million ($156), and two other female employees each received VND500,000 ($21). During the investigation, Thong stated he met Truong through social connections. At the time, Truong was serving as an officer with Team 2 of the municipal Criminal Police Division. In February 2024, Thong asked Truong to contact leaders of the District 1 police and the Criminal Police Division to establish a monthly payoff system in exchange for preventing inspections. Thong subsequently made multiple payments to Truong totaling VND1.75 billion ($73,700). Investigators determined that after receiving the money, Truong ignored Thong's request and instead used all the funds for personal expenses. Truong initially admitted to the conduct but later changed his testimony to deny appropriating the money. He claimed he initially accepted the funds because he feared refusing would affect his job, and that he later returned the money.