How did Ms. Truong My Lan illegally transfer more than 4.5 billion USD across the border?

At the conclusion of phase 2 investigation of the case that occurred at Van Thinh Phat Group Joint Stock Company, SCB Bank and related units, based on the provisions of Article 324 of the 2015 Penal Code, Resolution No. 03/2019/NQ-HDTP, the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security proposed to prosecute Ms. Truong My Lan (Chairman of Van Thinh Phat Group) for Money Laundering and Illegally Transporting Currency across the Border.

Accordingly, regarding the act of illegally transporting 106 trillion VND across the border, from the investigation results and collected evidence documents, from October 27, 2012 to October 7, 2022, there were 21 cases. Van Thinh Phat ecosystem company carried out 78 money transfer transactions abroad against the law with a total amount of 1.5 billion USD and received money from abroad transferred illegally with 152 money transactions. more than 3 billion USD.

The investigation agency of the Ministry of Public Security determined that the total amount of money Truong My Lan and her accomplices illegally transported currency across the border was more than 4.5 billion USD (equivalent to more than 106,730 billion VND, transferred more than 1.5 billion VND). USD and received more than 3 billion USD).

The investigation agency identified Truong My Lan as the mastermind and leader of the act of "laundering" more than 445,747 billion VND and illegally transporting more than 4.5 billion USD.

The conclusion clearly shows that, under the direction of Ms. Lan, subjects of Van Thinh Phat Group colluded with SCB Bank employees to transfer money internationally, through making false purchase and transfer invoices. shares, capital contributions, loan contracts between companies in Vietnam and companies abroad.

These contracts are all false contracts to legally transfer money abroad and receive money from abroad to Vietnam; Legal entities transferring money and receiving money from "ghost companies" belonging to Van Thinh Phat Group.

Worth mentioning, even though the procedures for transferring money abroad are not qualified, lack of certificates, documents..., the competent authorities still approve the unlocking on the system to complete the money transfer. international.

Accordingly, in addition to Truong My Lan, the defendants are Truong Khanh Hoang, former acting General Director of SCB; Tran Thi My Dung, former Deputy General Director of SCB; Vo Tan Hoang Van, former General Director of SCB, Bui Anh Dung, former Chairman of SCB... were also proposed to be prosecuted for different crimes of Money Laundering and Illegally Transporting Currency across Borders.

Currently, the investigation agency has seized more than 224.3 billion VND; Blocked 79 accounts of the defendants with an amount of more than 92.2 billion VND and 1,653.63 USD. At the same time, blocking transactions in 205 payment accounts, savings books, and securities accounts of the defendants, related people, and related legal entities with an amount of more than 824 billion VND and 261,914.93 USD.

In addition, assets were distrained and transactions were prevented for shares and capital contributions related to the defendants and related individuals with a total converted value of more than 12,313 billion VND.

According to Ms. Truong My Lan's testimony, money transferred from abroad to Vietnam is loan money, while money transferred abroad is debt repayment.

According to regulations, the Anti-Money Laundering Department under the State Bank Supervision and Inspection Agency has the role of receiving information and reports from organizations in accordance with the law on money laundering prevention and combat and other information. suspected of money laundering...

After receiving, the Department of Anti-Money Laundering is responsible for analyzing and processing reports and information suspected to be related to money laundering or other crimes related to money laundering according to the provisions of law.

According to the investigation conclusion, from 2012 to 2022, SCB Bank reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Department: 3,160 files reporting electronic money transfer transactions (transactions of 1,000 USD or more or in other foreign currencies with high value). equivalent value) in electronic form with 313,705 outgoing and received transactions. In addition, there were 151 suspicious transaction reports.

For 313,700 electronic money transfer transactions, based on regulations, the basis to determine electronic money transfer transactions related to money laundering activities are transactions related to organizations and individuals on the "list of money laundering activities". black"; is the subject of investigation, prosecution, and trial by the competent authorities of Vietnam and of countries and territories around the world; is on the warning list of the State Bank of Vietnam and of countries and territories around the world...

The investigation conclusion states that, before the prosecution of the case on October 7, 2022, there were 85 companies of Van Thinh Phat Group transferring money abroad and 63 companies of this group receiving money from abroad. Vietnam does not belong to the above mentioned subjects.

Therefore, the Department has no basis to determine that among the more than 313,700 electronic money transfer transactions, there are transactions related to money laundering and money transportation activities of companies belonging to Van Thinh Phat Group.

With 151 suspicious transaction reports sent by SCB Bank, there is no list of companies under Van Thinh Phat transferring or receiving money, so the Anti-Money Laundering Department has no basis to analyze or suspect. .

Another functional agency, the Foreign Exchange Management Department (State Bank), does not have the function of checking and inspecting foreign exchange activities of individuals and organizations in general as well as remittance activities abroad. abroad and receive money back to Vietnam in particular.

The Department of External Affairs Management only compiles and monitors data on the basis of aggregated reporting data from banks without specific transaction data for each specific organization or individual. In the process of monitoring aggregate data provided by SCB Bank, the Foreign Exchange Management Department has no basis to detect abnormalities in transferring and receiving foreign money.

Therefore, the investigation agency believes that there is no basis to consider the responsibility of the Anti-Money Laundering Department and the Foreign Exchange Management Department in the violations of regulations by subjects and companies belonging to Van Thinh Phat and SCB Bank. about international money transfers.

Ministry of Public Security: Ms. Truong My Lan has had a change in awareness and legal awareness Bút Màu16:31:48 07/06/2024According to the conclusion of the Investigating Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security, the defendant Truong My Lan has changed in terms of awareness and legal awareness, has sincerely declared and repented.