Pham Huynh Nhat Vi was sentenced to 9 years in prison for kidnapping two young girls on Nguyen Hue walking street (Ho Chi Minh City) to film a pornographic video at the direction of her lover.
On August 7, Vi, 21 years old, was sentenced by the Family and Juvenile Court - Ho Chi Minh City People's Court to 3 years and 6 months in prison for using a person under 16 years old for pornographic purposes; 5 years and 6 months in prison for appropriating a person under 16 years old.;forced to pay 80 million dong in compensation to two girls.
The trial was held behind closed doors to protect and keep the privacy of the victims confidential.
The verdict determined that in October 2023, Vi met Richard through an online dating app and had a relationship. More than a month after meeting in Vietnam, the two rented a room together at a hotel in District 1. After more than a week, the man left the country but continued to regularly contact Vi via Zalo.
Richard regularly sent Vi videos of himself having sex with Asian women; at the same time, he asked to seduce girls aged 6-12 to make pornographic videos to send to him, promising to give them money, marry them, and sponsor them to the US.
The girl accepted and her boyfriend transferred 500 USD. The two agreed that when Vi found the girls, Richard would rent an apartment for her to live in and use as a place to film the video.
On the evening of April 3, Vi went to Nguyen Hue walking street and saw a girl and her 3-year-old brother sitting on the sidewalk. She came over to talk to them, gave them 10,000 VND, invited them to eat ice cream and fried chicken, and took pictures to send to Richard.
Because she had no place to live, Vi took the two children on foot through many routes from District 1 to District 8. On the way, she texted her boyfriend, discussing renting a place to commit the act. Through a global room rental application, Richard rented an apartment in Saigon Pearl apartment building (Ward 22, Binh Thanh District) and instructed his girlfriend on how to use it.
Late that night, Vi took the two girls back to the apartment and began filming pornographic videos. From April 3 to 7, while staying there with the two girls, Vi filmed 12 videos and sent them to Richard, who transferred an additional $200.
After many days of searching, at noon on April 9, the police raided the apartment, rescued the two girls, and arrested Vi.
Regarding the case, Vi's lover Richard (unknown background, living in the US) was identified as the mastermind and director. Ho Chi Minh City Police sent a document to the Supreme People's Procuracy to request judicial assistance to the US Department of Justice for verification, and at the same time separate this person's actions into another case, continuing the investigation.