On November 1, Ho Chi Minh City police announced that they had uncovered a large network producing, selling and using forged documents. Nine people were arrested in the case.
Earlier, economic police identified people using forged diplomas and certificates to seek jobs at different organizations. Investigators determined that the network assigned separate roles to forgers, brokers, couriers and sellers of forged documents.
The participants mainly communicated through social networks using anonymous accounts and phone numbers registered to other people. To avoid detection, they used false information when sending documents through postal and delivery services. They also changed vehicles, times and routes for direct handovers.
The money trail was concealed through several bank accounts held in other people's names and intermediary accounts, making it harder to trace.
After its investigation, the economic police identified Hoang Nhat Vu, 36, who lives in Di An, as the network's leader and the person directly producing forged documents.
On October 15, law enforcement officers launched an operation and arrested the participants while they were handing over forged documents. Searches of the suspects' homes found more than 670 forged seals, along with equipment and other materials.
Electronic data and statements from the suspects led investigators to initially determine that the network had forged more than 670 seals belonging to agencies and organizations to produce forged documents.
The forged items included school diplomas, occupational and professional certificates, equipment inspection certificates, vehicle registration documents, driving licences and other papers. The total number of forged documents reached tens of thousands, generating billions of Vietnamese dong in illicit proceeds.
The Ho Chi Minh City police investigation agency opened a criminal case, charged the suspects and detained nine people under the offence of forging seals and documents of agencies and organizations.
Police are continuing the investigation, tracing other people involved and clarifying the production, sale, transport, distribution and use of forged documents.
Ho Chi Minh City police called on people who had ordered, bought, sold, brokered or used forged documents to come forward and provide information for the investigation. Their cases will be considered under the leniency policy provided by law.
Sources: Dân Trí
