On June 23, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court handed down an 11-month prison sentence to Chung Yu Teng, a 61-year-old Taiwanese national, for using forged documents, in violation of Article 341, Clause 1 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
The court found that Chung’s actions had seriously violated the state’s administrative management system and disrupted public order. However, given that the defendant confessed truthfully and was a first-time offender, the court applied leniency during sentencing.
Forged Identity to Evade Foreign Arrest Warrant
According to the indictment, in 2011, while staying at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Chung came into contact with an individual known only as “A Lâm.” He paid this person USD 5,000 to produce a fake Vietnamese national ID card.
After providing a passport photo, on May 4, 2011, Chung received a counterfeit ID card under the name “Chung Minh Thủy”, born in 1966, of Vietnamese nationality and Chinese ethnicity, with a listed address in Tan Binh District, HCMC.
Later that same day, Chung and A Lâm visited the Immigration Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police to apply for a passport using the fake ID. However, immigration officers noticed irregularities and detained Chung for questioning, while A Lâm fled the scene.
12-Year Manhunt Ends in 2024
During the initial investigation, authorities confirmed the ID card was a forgery, created using color inkjet printing techniques. As the investigation progressed, Chung was temporarily released under residential supervision, with Phạm Thị Bích Liên, a friend of Chung’s and wife of a company owner in Đồng Nai Province, acting as his guarantor.
Despite being placed under supervision, Chung fled the area, prompting Ho Chi Minh City Police to issue a warrant for his arrest on June 28, 2012.
After nearly 12 years on the run, Chung was finally apprehended on April 15, 2024 by Ho Chi Minh City authorities.
At the time of his arrest, Chung fully confessed to the charges, and his statement was consistent with the physical evidence, forensic analysis, and case records.
Authorities determined that the purpose of the fake documents was to conceal his true identity and evade an active arrest warrant issued by Taiwanese authorities. The forged ID was intended to legalize his stay in Vietnam and potentially allow him to exit to a third country, avoiding extradition or arrest.
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Investigation
Based on the evidence, the court found Chung Yu Teng guilty of using forged official documents and sentenced him to 11 months in prison.
The identity and whereabouts of “A Lâm”, the individual who created the fake ID, remain unknown. Authorities have confirmed that the investigation into this accomplice is ongoing and further legal action will be taken once they are identified.
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