Vietnamese Artist and Model Truong Ngoc Anh Arrested and Detained
Truong Ngoc Anh, a well-known Vietnamese artist and model, has recently been arrested and detained. On October 31, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department announced a decision to initiate legal proceedings against her.
Details of the Arrest
The investigation centers on charges of “abuse of trust to misappropriate property.” Prior to her arrest, Truong Ngoc Anh held the position of chairman and CEO at Dat Rong Real Estate Company. Allegations surfaced after the company filed a complaint against her, claiming she misappropriated assets.
Background of Dat Rong Real Estate
- Founded in 2007
- Truong Ngoc Anh was the legal representative and director
The company received an investment of $9.1 million, equivalent to over 149 billion VND, from Irish investor P.G.M. This investment was meant for two real estate projects, including the Indochine building at 112 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
Allegations of Misappropriation
Investigation findings indicate that, just before signing the investment contract, Truong Ngoc Anh and her associate N.M.H. purchased land from four households for 7,917 taels of gold. This amount is significantly lower than the investment value documented in the contract.
- According to records, Anh paid only 3,000 taels of gold
- She falsely accounted for 4,458 taels in company records
The discrepancy suggests manipulation to misappropriate funds. In December 2007, the Ho Chi Minh City government issued a decision for land recovery to expand Le Quy Don High School, compensating the households involved with over 26.1 billion VND. However, after receiving the compensation, only 3 billion VND was returned to the company and investors, while 10 billion VND was misappropriated for personal use.
Investigation and Implications
Authorities are expanding their investigation to clarify the responsibilities of other involved individuals and recover funds for affected investors. Truong Ngoc Anh is accused of exploiting her role as the company’s legal representative to deceive shareholders and misappropriate significant amounts of money.
Prior to her arrest, she was celebrated as a prominent actress and producer, regarded as a beauty icon in Vietnam.
