The People’s Procuracy in Ho Chi Minh City indicted Luu Chi Hung on June 1st, for smuggling a large cache of diamonds worth over VND7 billion (US$350,000) from Hong Kong into Vietnam last year.
Luu Chi Hung and the exhibits, including 306 diamonds packed in 10 small plastic bags and some other jewelry items (Photo:Tuoi Tre)
Hung was charged for illegal trafficking of diamonds into the country.
The agency has now transferred the case file to the city People’s Court for an impending trial.
On January 18 last year, custom officers at the airport caught Hung while he was returning from Hong Kong to HCMC, carrying hundreds of precious stones, 10 bracelets, two necklaces and a pair of earrings without declaring the goods at the customs counter.
On January 28, it was confirmed that the precious stones were diamonds, worth more than VND7 billion. The rest of the items were made of 57-carat gold, worth nearly VND175 million.
Hung was unable to produce documents showing he had legally acquired the items.
In related news, police of Ben Cat District in Binh Duong Province have decided to prosecute three workers of Kumho Tire Co. Ltd for theft of tires.
The three arrested include Tran Huu Quang and Tran Van Toan from Nghe An Province and Tran Van Bay from Ben Cat District in Binh Duong Province. Toan is currently absconding.
Since 2008, the number of tires stolen numbered around 6,800, worth nearly VND7 billion ($350,000).
The Ben Cat District police had called in Nguyen Cong Nhut on April 21 for questioning of the tire theft and four days later, he was found hanging. On June 1, police from the People’s Supreme Procuracy coordinated with the Binh Duong Province police to find information concerning Nhut’s death.
