Trương Ngọc Ánh, a prominent actress and former chairwoman of Land Dragon Real Estate Company, has been arrested for alleged fraud. The 49-year-old actress was taken into custody on October 31 by the Economic Police of Ho Chi Minh City.
Details of the Arrest
The arrest stems from accusations that Trương Ngọc Ánh misused her position to misappropriate substantial assets, including thousands of taels of gold and tens of billions of Vietnamese dong. The Land Dragon Company, situated on Dao Duy Anh Street in Duc Nhuan Ward, lodged a complaint against Ánh for allegedly stealing from the business.
Background of Land Dragon Company
Founded in 2007, Land Dragon was led by Trương Ngọc Ánh as its director and legal representative. She persuaded an Irish investor, Mr. Pham, to contribute a total of $9.1 million (over 149 billion VND) for two real estate projects, including the Indochine building in District 3.
For the Indochine project, Mr. Pham had already transferred $4.49 million (approximately 72 billion VND). According to an investment contract signed on January 25, 2008, the project was to be owned by Land Dragon, valued at over 12,917 taels of gold.
Allegations of Financial Misconduct
- Shortly before contract signing, it was revealed Trương Ngọc Ánh and another associate acquired property rights for just 7,917 taels of gold.
- Out of this, Ánh only paid 3,000 taels of gold but reflected in company records as having disbursed 4,458 taels.
- This discrepancy indicated possible inflation of project values for personal gain.
Furthermore, in December 2007, the Ho Chi Minh City government mandated the reclamation of the land for a school expansion, compensating 26.1 billion VND to four households. Subsequently, these households reimbursed Trương Ngọc Ánh and Mr. Nguyễn, who allegedly disbursed only 3 billion VND to the company while misusing over 10 billion VND for personal expenses.
Trương Ngọc Ánh’s Career
Before the recent developments, Trương Ngọc Ánh was well-known in the entertainment industry, appearing in films such as “Blood Money” and “Silk Dress.” She started her acting career at the age of 16 and won the title of Miss New Model International in 1998. Throughout her 30-year career, she has worked as a model, actress, and singer, recently shifting her focus towards film production with works like “Hương Ga” and “Vệ sĩ Sài Gòn.”
In addition to her performance career, Trương Ngọc Ánh is the chairperson of Miss Earth Vietnam 2023 and has served as a judge in several international film festivals, receiving accolades such as “Best Asian Actress” at the Seoul International Drama Awards.
The legal proceedings against her are ongoing, highlighting concerns around corporate governance and integrity within the entertainment sector.
