They arranged for 35 Chinese nationals to stay at a hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City
Three Vietnamese men have been arrested for arranging for 35 Chinese nationals to stay illegally in Ho Chi Minh City.
The municipal Department of Public Security confirmed on Monday morning it had apprehended and initiated legal proceedings against Tran Anh Tai, 47, Dong Duy Tri, 40, and Trinh Minh Hoang, 34.
The arrest was approved by the local People’s Procuracy.
Police investigation showed that Tai and Tri had colluded with Hoang, owner of Symphony Hotel in District 1, to organize the illegal stay of many Chinese citizens at the hotel.
Following their stay, the Chinese would be transported to the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to enter Cambodia unlawfully.
On March 6, police officers discovered 35 Chinese people staying illegally at Symphony Hotel.
They were brought to a local quarantine center and tested for COVID-19, while the hotel was fumigated and temporarily fenced off.
The lockdown was later lifted after the 35 Chinese tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
At the police station, Tai, Tri, and Hoang admitted to committing the offense to pocket extra money.
Further investigation is ongoing.
According to Vietnamese law, organizing for others to illegally enter or stay in Vietnam is punishable by one to 15 years in prison, depending on the severity of each case.
