The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy completed its indictment against five urban order collaborators in Pham Ngu Lao Ward. Prosecutors transferred the file to the municipal People’s Court, recommending trial on bribery charges. Investigators determined the group systematically collected illicit protection money from dozens of street businesses and parking lots.
The five defendants indicted include “Nguyen Tien Mai”, 41, former deputy head overseeing the ward urban order team. The remaining four collaborators are “Nguyen Thanh Tung”, 35, “Do Khac Anh Khang”, 30, “Luong Quoc Huy Hoang”, 45, and “Nguyen Minh Tuan”, 37.
According to court filings, the criminal scheme surfaced on December 15, 2023. Police received a formal complaint from a resident named “B.T.C”. She accused Tung of demanding monthly extortion payments to overlook sidewalk infractions. Later that evening, officers caught Tung red-handed receiving 750,000 VND from the complainant along Nguyen Trai Street.
Following that sting operation, investigators uncovered reports from 32 additional merchants and business owners. The expanded investigation dismantled a protection network that operated for more than two years.
Secret Monthly Rackets on Public Sidewalks
Investigators established that between November 2021 and December 2023, the defendants exploited official patrol shifts to extract private profits.
Mai used his leadership position to orchestrate the entire ring. He directed subordinates to negotiate payoff amounts directly with local shopkeepers.
Under Mai’s instructions, Tung and Khang approached coffee shops, diners, and private parking lots. In return for monthly bribes, the urban order team promised total immunity. They pledged never to inspect sites, issue fines, or impound commercial wares and customer motorbikes. Monthly bribe fees varied from several hundred thousand to multiple millions of dong.
Five urban order collaborators face bribery charges for collecting recurring protection fees from street-level businesses. Photo for illustrative purposes only
To conceal operations, the collaborators accepted physical cash and digital bank transfers into private accounts. Following each payment round, Tung and Khang compiled ledgers for Mai. Mai calculated revenue shares across group members through Zalo messaging and banking applications.
During phase one, running from November 2021 to April 2023, the ring pocketed 159.85 million VND. Mai, Tung, and Hoang divided those proceeds equally.
In phase two, from April to December 2023, Khang and Tuan joined the operation. The ring extorted an additional 395.05 million VND from local businesses.
Members split payouts according to shift schedules and deposited reserve funds for group dinners.
Judicial agencies ruled that Mai, Tung, and Hoang bear criminal liability for 554.9 million VND. Meanwhile, Khang and Tuan answer for 395.05 million VND in illicit bribes.
Criminal Immunity Granted to 33 Extorted Merchants
During interrogations, Mai offered evasive statements. He claimed incoming bank transfers represented casual loans from Tung for personal travel, meals, or gifts for superiors.
However, prosecutors rejected those claims using bank statements, forensic Zalo logs, and corroborating confessions. Authorities concluded Mai acted as the principal ringleader directing the extortion ring.
Investigators identified 33 individuals who paid money to the ward collaborators under duress. Because these merchants reported the shakedown before discovery, prosecutors granted them complete criminal immunity under Article 364 of the Penal Code.
Source: thanhnien.vn
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