Vietnamese woman sentenced to nine years for kidnapping two girls

Phạm Huỳnh Nhật Vi, 21, when arrested by HCM City police at an apartment building in HCM City on April 8, 2024. — Photo courtesy of the HCM City Police

HCM CITY — A 21-year-old Vietnamese woman has been sentenced to nine years in prison for kidnapping two young girls, aged three and seven, for pornographic filming for money.

The Family and Juvenile Court of HCM City People’s Court on Wednesday sentenced Phạm Huỳnh Nhật Vi to three years and six months for abusing individuals under 16 for pornographic purposes, and five years and six months for their abduction.

In addition, the woman from the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tiền Giang was ordered to pay VNĐ80 million (US$3,200) in compensation to the victims.

The trial was held privately to protect the victims’ identities.

The court found that Vi, who met a foreign man named Richard through a dating app back in October 2023, was persuaded by him to lure girls aged six to twelve for pornographic filming for money.

After receiving US$500 from the man in early April, Vi enticed the minors with money and food, right at the popular pedestrian street Nguyễn Huệ in HCM City, ultimately leading them to an apartment rented by Richard where she recorded twelve pornographic videos for him over several days.

The police rescued the girls on April 9.

Richard, who remains unidentified and resides in the US, has been identified as the mastermind of the operation.

The HCM City Police have requested judicial assistance from the US Department of Justice for further investigation.

The two girls are currently in safe and stable condition, according to local authorities. — VNS