{
  "id": 8789301,
  "title": "HCMC restaurant owner claims cop pockets $67,000 in prostitution protection scam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/hcmc-restaurant-owner-claims-cop-pockets-67-000-in-prostitution",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress International",
    "slug": "vnexpress-international",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/crime/hcmc-restaurant-owner-claims-cop-pockets-67-000-in-prostitution-protection-scam-5122438.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In HCMC, restaurant owner Nguyen Dinh Thong alleges that former police officer Ha Manh Truong pocketed $67,000 in a prostitution protection scam. Thong, 53, faces trial for procuring prostitution and bribery on September 22. Truong, 43, stands charged with fraud and appropriation of property. Three other defendants, managing Thong's restaurants, are accused of procuring prostitution. According to the indictment, Thong appointed Dong Trong Le, 48, and Vo Phuc Chau, 36, as general and deputy general managers of the two establishments. Since February 2024, they permitted female hostesses to engage in prostitution, charging between VND2.5 million and VND3 million per encounter, with managers receiving 20% of booked room bills and additional money from customers. On November 7, 2024, HCMC police discovered several hostesses from Thong's restaurants engaging in sexual activities with customers at two hotels in Phu Nhuan District. Thong allegedly paid Truong through social connections, with the officer serving as an officer in Team 2 of the municipal Criminal Police Division. In February 2024, Thong requested Truong to create a monthly payoff system, leading to Truong receiving VND1.75 billion for personal expenses. Initially admitting to the conduct, Truong later recanted, claiming he accepted the funds due to fear of job repercussions and returned them later.",
  "summary": "A Ho Chi Minh City restaurant owner claims he paid a police officer more than VND1.7 billion (US$67,000) to protect his establishments' prostitution activities, but the officer allegedly pocketed the bribe.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}