Jail for Tay Ninh human traffickers

Tay Ninh Province People's Court has sentenced four offenders to a total of 21 years in prison for trafficking nine Vietnamese women to work as prostitutes in Singapore.

The ring's head, Vo Thi Hiep, 46, received eight years. She admitted to meeting a Vietnamese women who immigrated to Singapore known as "pimp Ngan" in the middle of 2009.

Hiep and "pimp Ngan" then planned to cheat and take Vietnamese women to Singapore and sell them for Ngan's brothel. For each woman sold, Hiep would be paid VND1 million (US$50).

Ngan then hired Ly Thanh Mong, 25, to receive the women that Hiep sold and take care of necessary documents and flights for these women to come to Singapore. Ngan paid Mong VND2 million ($100) per month.

In September 2009, Hiep promised twins Tran Thi Kim Ngoc and Tran Thi Kim Ngan, 19, that she had found a well-paying job for them at a restaurant in Singapore. Ngoc and Ngan, from Tay Ninh Province, agreed to go and were then sold to pimp Ngan's brothel.

They were later sent back to Viet Nam by Hiep and were required to find more women to send to Singapore.

Later in the month, Ngoc introduced another woman to Hiep. Unlike the others, she did not agree to work as a prostitute and told her family to buy her back for VND18 million ($900). She then denounced Hiep's trafficking ring to local police.

On February 4, police seized Mong and Ngan at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City while they were trying to fly nine women to Singapore.

At the court Mong, Ngoc and Ngan were sentenced to six, four and three years in prison, respectively.

According to the General Department for Anti-crime Police, 140 cases of human trafficking were detected between August and October this year. The majority of the 1,300 victims were women, the department said.

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Jail for human traffickers

Tay Ninh province People's Court on Dec. 6 sentenced four offenders to a total of 21 years in prison for trafficking nine Vietnamese women to work as prostitutes in Singapore .

The ring's head, Vo Thi Hiep, 46, received eight years. She admitted to meeting a Vietnamese women who immigrated to Singapore known as "pimp Ngan" in the middle of 2009. Hiep and "pimp Ngan" then planned to cheat and take Vietnamese women to Singapore and sell them for Ngan's brothel. For each woman sold, Hiep would be paid 1 million VND (50 USD).

Ngan then hired Ly Thanh Mong, 25, to receive the women that Hiep sold and take care of necessary documents and flights for these women to come to Singapore . Ngan paid Mong 2 million VND (100 USD) per month.

In September 2009, Hiep promised twins Tran Thi Kim Ngoc and Tran Thi Kim Ngan, 19, that she had found a well-paying job for them at a restaurant in Singapore . Ngoc and Ngan, from Tay Ninh province, agreed to go and were then sold to pimp Ngan's brothel.

They were later sent back to Vietnam by Hiep and were required to find more women to send to Singapore .

Later in the month, Ngoc introduced another woman to Hiep. Unlike the others, she did not agree to work as a prostitute and told her family to buy her back for 18 million VND (900 USD). She then denounced Hiep's trafficking ring to local police.

On February 4, police seized Mong and Ngan at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City while they were trying to fly nine women to Singapore .

At the court Mong, Ngoc and Ngan were sentenced to six, four and three years in prison, respectively.

According to the General Department for Anti-crime Police, 140 cases of human trafficking were detected between August and October this year. The majority of the 1,300 victims were women, the department said./.

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Jail for human traffickers

TAY NINH — Tay Ninh Province People's Court yesterday sentenced four offenders to a total of 21 years in prison for trafficking nine Vietnamese women to work as prostitutes in Singapore.

The ring's head, Vo Thi Hiep, 46, received eight years. She admitted to meeting a Vietnamese women who immigrated to Sing-apore known as "pimp Ngan" in the middle of 2009. Hiep and "pimp Ngan" then planned to cheat and take Vietnamese women to Singapore and sell them for Ngan's brothel. For each woman sold, Hiep would be paid VND1 million (US$50).

Ngan then hired Ly Thanh Mong, 25, to receive the women that Hiep sold and take care of necessary documents and flights for these women to come to Singapore. Ngan paid Mong VND2 million ($100) per month.

In September 2009, Hiep promised twins Tran Thi Kim Ngoc and Tran Thi Kim Ngan, 19, that she had found a well-paying job for them at a restaurant in Singapore. Ngoc and Ngan, from Tay Ninh Province, agreed to go and were then sold to pimp Ngan's brothel.

They were later sent back to Viet Nam by Hiep and were required to find more women to send to Singapore.

Later in the month, Ngoc introduced another woman to Hiep. Unlike the others, she did not agree to work as a prostitute and told her family to buy her back for VND18 million ($900). She then denounced Hiep's trafficking ring to local police.

On February 4, police seized Mong and Ngan at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City while they were trying to fly nine women to Singapore.

At the court Mong, Ngoc and Ngan were sentenced to six, four and three years in prison, respectively.

According to the General Department for Anti-crime Police, 140 cases of human trafficking were detected between August and October this year. The majority of the 1,300 victims were women, the department said. — VNS

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Korean bride murderer gets 12 years in jail

The mentally deranged South Korean husband who admitted to murdering his Vietnamese wife in July was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday by a Korean court.

Prosecutors last month suggested life-in-prison for Jang Do Hyo as he committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. Prosecutors argued that Hyo posed a future risk to society.

But the judge determined that Hyo was mentally ill during the murder and has showed regret afterward, local news website VnExpress said Friday, citing an AFP report.

The 47-year-old requires mental treatment in jail and will have to wear an electronic monitoring device for ten years after his release, according to an announcement made at the trial.

Hyo stabbed his 20-year-old wife Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They wed early this year through a marriage brokerage firm.

He told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, Hyo has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Hyo was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

Following the case, South Korea pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures released by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City showed that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan.

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Korean bride murderer gets 12 years in jail

The mentally deranged South Korean husband who admitted to murdering his Vietnamese wife in July was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday by a Korean court.

Prosecutors last month suggested life-in-prison for Jang Do Hyo as he committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. Prosecutors argued that Hyo posed a future risk to society.

But the judge determined that Hyo was mentally ill during the murder and has showed regret afterward, local news website VnExpress said Friday, citing an AFP report.

The 47-year-old requires mental treatment in jail and will have to wear an electronic monitoring device for ten years after his release, according to an announcement made at the trial.

Hyo stabbed his 20-year-old wife Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They wed early this year through a marriage brokerage firm.

He told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, Hyo has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Hyo was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

Following the case, South Korea pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures released by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City showed that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan.

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Prosecutors ask for life in prison for Korean bride murderer

On Thursday, South Korean prosecutors asked a judge to consider life-in-prison for the mentally deranged husband who admitted to killing his 20-year-old Vietnamese wife in July, local news website VnExpress reported.

During a hearings in Busan, prosecutors said Jang Do Hyo committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. The prosecutors said there’s a risk that Jang would repeat the crime.

The 47-year-old stabbed Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They got married early this year via a marriage brokerage firm.

Jang told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, he has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Jang was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

The final verdict will be announced in an upcoming trial.

Following the case, South Korean pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program. Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers. 

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Prosecutors ask for life in prison for Korean bride murderer

On Thursday, South Korean prosecutors asked a judge to consider life-in-prison for the mentally deranged husband who admitted to killing his 20-year-old Vietnamese wife in July, local news website VnExpress reported.

During a hearings in Busan, prosecutors said Jang Do Hyo committed the crime despite receiving treatment for his condition many times. The prosecutors said there’s a risk that Jang would repeat the crime.

The 47-year-old stabbed Thach Thi Hoang Ngoc, of Can Tho, to death just eight days after her arrival in the country. They got married early this year via a marriage brokerage firm.

Jang told the police he heard a voice in his head asking him to kill Ngoc during their quarrel.

Since July 2005, he has been treated 57 times for mental illness, but stopped taking medicine after the marriage. Police say Jang was afraid his wife would discover his past problems.

The final verdict will be announced in an upcoming trial.

Following the case, South Korean pledged to make Korean men looking to marry foreign women undergo a cultural education program. Seoul authorities have compensated Ngoc’s family US$25,000.

More than one-third of South Korean men, most of them farmers and fishermen, married foreign women last year, according to figures by Korean authorities.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone. This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea for marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were conducted by illegal brokerage firms.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers. 

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Dutch firm leads energy saving campaign

HCM CITY — Philips Viet Nam and the central province of Quang Tri organised a campaign last week to save electricity by using it effectively.

The Dutch electronics giant donated 1,400 energy-efficient fluoresecent light bulbs of various kinds to 350 poor households in Thuan Commune in the province's Huong Hoa District.

The campaign has also been launched in the provinces of Vinh Long, Dong Thap, An Giang, Quang Ngai, and Binh Thuan.

Domestic violence recovery programme

HA NOI — Hagar officially launched its recovery programme for Vietnamese women who are victims of violence, sexual abuse and trafficking yesterday in Ha Noi.

At the opening ceremony, it also presented graduation certificates to 13 Vietnamese women who had joined its pilot training programme.

Hagar, founded in 1994, is an international Christian organisation committed to the recovery, empowerment and reintegration of women and children in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Viet Nam.

Police seize two tonnes of unlabelled chicken

HA NOI — Ha Noi Police found and seized a truck illegally carrying two tonnes of unlabelled chicken, lacking point of origin certification on Monday in Thuong Tin District, Ha Noi.

Nguyen Van Quang, 33, living in northern Hai Duong Province, the truck's driver admitted to the police that he had been hired to transport the chicken to Ha Vi Market in the district.

Quang failed to show any documents proving the point of origin of the chicken.

Substandard moon cakes pulled off shelves

HA NOI — Ha Noi Market Watch Department seized about 1,000 substandard moon cakes produced by Gia Huy moon cake producer in Long Bien District in Ha Noi on Monday.

The inspection revealed that the producer had used unquarantined eggs to make moon cakes. The inspectors also found 140 unquarantined eggs at the producer's.

Monks trained in HIV prevention

HCM CITY — Monks from the Buddhist Institute joined a two-day training course for preventing and minimising discrimination against those with HIV/AIDS on Monday in HCM City.

The course, held by the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee and Northern European Association in Viet Nam, aims to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among monks. — VNS

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More girls paraded for Taiwanese men

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday found 13 women, most at their twenties, being paraded as future brides in front of two Taiwanese men.

The Taiwanese were checking closely the body of each woman, with help of the Vietnamese broker and the translator, when the police busted in.

According to initial investigations, Phung Quang Quang, 31, a city resident, has over the past six years successfully brokered more than 100 marriages for Taiwanese and South Korean men with Vietnamese women.

Quang brought the girls from poor families in the Mekong Delta, and made them wait in Ho Chi Minh City to be paraded.

He reportedly earns around VND10 million (US$513) every month for gathering the girls and parading them for Korean and Taiwanese men.

His sister worked as the translator for the men.

All the Vietnamese and Taiwanese caught in the latest raid were taken to the nearby police station.

This is the second illegal marriage brokerage busted in a week in the city. The earlier one was on August 27 when 17 Vietnamese girls were paraded in front of a Korean groom-to-be.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers.

Many of them are alienated and mistreated.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in HCMC show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone.

This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea after marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were arranged by illegal brokers. 

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More girls paraded for Taiwanese men

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday found 13 women, most at their twenties, being paraded as future brides in front of two Taiwanese men.

The Taiwanese were checking closely the body of each woman, with help of the Vietnamese broker and the translator, when the police busted in.

According to initial investigations, Phung Quang Quang, 31, a city resident, has over the past six years successfully brokered more than 100 marriages for Taiwanese and South Korean men with Vietnamese women.

Quang brought the girls from poor families in the Mekong Delta, and made them wait in Ho Chi Minh City to be paraded.

He reportedly earns around VND10 million (US$513) every month for gathering the girls and parading them for Korean and Taiwanese men.

His sister worked as the translator for the men.

All the Vietnamese and Taiwanese caught in the latest raid were taken to the nearby police station.

This is the second illegal marriage brokerage busted in a week in the city. The earlier one was on August 27 when 17 Vietnamese girls were paraded in front of a Korean groom-to-be.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers.

Many of them are alienated and mistreated.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in HCMC show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone.

This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea after marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were arranged by illegal brokers. 

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Police bust bride parade for Koreans in HCMC

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday caught three Korean nationals including a marriage broker choosing Vietnamese brides from among 17 women paraded for them.

Among the Vietnamese caught at the scene were a translator, three brokers who also supplied the bride candidates between 18 and 20 years of age.

The Korean husbands-to-be and broker were picked up at the Tan Son Nhat Airport and taken straight to the house in Binh Chanh District where the Vietnamese women were paraded in front of them.

The translator, Nguyen Thi Tuoi, 26, who directly dealt with the Korean broker, told the police she had so far provided her services for three illegal marriage brokerages for Korean men at the same house this year for US$25 a day.

The suppliers of the girls will get a further VND2.8 million (US$144.30) for each one chosen by the Korean men, Tuoi said.

Most of the girls were brought from their families in the Mekong Delta. They stayed with the suppliers, were served daily meals and VND300,000 ($15.46) a month.

Police are investigating the case further.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers.

Many of them are alienated and mistreated.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in HCMC show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone.

This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea after marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were arranged by illegal brokers.

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Police bust bride parade for Koreans in HCMC

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday caught three Korean nationals including a marriage broker choosing Vietnamese brides from among 17 women paraded for them.

Among the Vietnamese caught at the scene were a translator, three brokers who also supplied the bride candidates between 18 and 20 years of age.

The Korean husbands-to-be and broker were picked up at the Tan Son Nhat Airport and taken straight to the house in Binh Chanh District where the Vietnamese women were paraded in front of them.

The translator, Nguyen Thi Tuoi, 26, who directly dealt with the Korean broker, told the police she had so far provided her services for three illegal marriage brokerages for Korean men at the same house this year for US$25 a day.

The suppliers of the girls will get a further VND2.8 million (US$144.30) for each one chosen by the Korean men, Tuoi said.

Most of the girls were brought from their families in the Mekong Delta. They stayed with the suppliers, were served daily meals and VND300,000 ($15.46) a month.

Police are investigating the case further.

Over the last two decades, poverty has driven thousands of women from poor families, especially the Mekong Delta, to marry older men, mainly from South Korea and Taiwan, despite language and cultural barriers.

Many of them are alienated and mistreated.

Statistics from the South Korean Consulate General in HCMC show that around 27,500 Vietnamese women had been granted marriage visas by 2008 and around 8,000 such visas were granted in 2009 alone.

This means around 35,500 Vietnamese women had migrated to South Korea after marriage by the end of 2009.

Most of these marriages were arranged by illegal brokers.

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