The self-proclaimed "dog-eating monk" Thich Tam Phuc was arrested for scamming money, forging documents

On December 6, the Cu Chi District Public Security Bureau issued a decision to prosecute the accused and an arrest warrant for Nguyen Minh Phuc (Thich Tam Phuc) for fraudulently appropriating property and using false documents of agencies and organizations.

Through the initial investigation, in 2021, Ms. Le Thi H.T (B.N. 1973, Dong Thanh Commune, Hoc Mon District) bought a land parcel with an area of 420.3m2 (located in land parcel No. 26, map No. 15) at the address of Binh My commune, Cu Chi district of Mr. N.V.T and Ms. N.T.C.N for VND 2.4 billion but has not yet carried out procedures for parcel separation.

On 7/10/2022, Ms. T through Le Van Vinh (SN 1990, Cu Chi district) introduced and got to know Phuc to ask for procedures to separate 1 land parcel into 2 land parcels with separate land use right certificates, Phuc agreed.

Although Phuc had no function and no relationship to be able to carry out land parcel separation procedures, because Phuc knew and repeatedly hired people to make fake documents and fake certificates to create religious trust to deceive others, Phuc agreed to accept the procedures for separating the land parcel at Ms. T's request.

Phuc agreed with Mrs. T and Vinh to carry out procedures for separating the land parcel at a cost of VND 135 million, Phuc received VND 70 million in advance.

After that, Phuc hired to make 2 fake land use right certificates on social networking applications. Phuc received 2 fake land use right certificates and gave Mrs. T one.

As for a fake certificate and a real land use right certificate of Mrs. T, Phuc stored it in a safe to wait for Mrs. T to give all the remaining money before giving the 2nd fake land use right certificate to Mrs. T.

After Phuc's behavior was discovered, Phuc fled to Thailand. As soon as Phuc returned to Vietnam, the Cu Chi District Police Registration Agency summoned Nguyen Minh Phuc to work.

After many tortuous denials, Phuc confessed to the entire offense as above. The Cu Chi District Police Department conducted an emergency search at Phuc's house, seizing 1 fake land use right certificate and 1 real land use right certificate of Ms. T.

Earlier, on the evening of July 22, police forces inspected a pub in Ward 17, Go Vap District and took many people to the office to test for illegal substances, including Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc. Mr. Gospel tested negative for the banned substance and was let go.

Notably, Mr. Phuc, dressed in yellow clothes, appeared at the pub, causing public outrage. In this regard, the Vietnam Buddhist Church in Ho Chi Minh City has spoken.

Talking to reporters of Lao Lao Newspaper, Venerable Thich Tam Hai, Head of Information and Communication Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Church in Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed: "Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc, who calls himself "Venerable Thich Tam Phuc" is not a Buddhist monk. Regarding Mr. Phuc's online statements masquerading as Buddhist monks were reported by Venerable Thich An Thuong, Head of the Administrative Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Church in Cu Chi district."

According to Venerable Thich Tam Hai, Cu Chi District People's Committee used to convene meetings to handle cases with the participation of representatives of many agencies such as police, judiciary, culture and information.

Through verification, all kinds of papers, proof of monasticism, appointment decisions for Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc with the signatures of the Venerable Chairman of the Governing Council, the Venerable Head of the Central Sangha Committee, the seal of the Central Governing Council of the UBCV issued to Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc were all made by Mr. Phuc, fake.

The medals, medals and certificates of merit of leaders of the State and Government were also confirmed by the authorities to be forged by Mr. Phuc.

"The case of Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc, since 2014, was confirmed by Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda (Hoc Mon district), not to be an ordained monk at Hoang Fa Pagoda and widely noticed.

The authorities also informed that the forms of State-level commendation issued to collectives and individuals of Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc are not on the list of commendations stored at the Emulation and Reward Committee, the cases of commendation do not have Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc's name," Thich Tam Hai added.

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