Ngo Quang Truong

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday arrested a company director who hired gangsters to kill a man who threatened to expose his corrupt dealings.

Investigations showed that the 48-year-old Truong had hired Luan to attack his former deputy Dang Xuan Si on October 15 this year. Luan then hired five other men, three of whom are Khoa, Huy and Huan. Police are still looking for two others, identified so far only as Tan and Toan.

Si collapsed after he was stabbed three times by Toan. The gang fled the scene on motorbikes. The 51-year-old was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries later.

Police caught Huy the same day and three others later. Their statements led to Truong, whose house was also searched Wednesday.

According to the police, Si in 2006 discovered several of Truong’s wrongdoings including selling land plots even before ground clearance. So he withdrew his money from the company and sent a note accusing Truong to the city’s Department of Investment and Planning.

Truong found this out and since early September, contacted Luan many times to discuss harming Si.

Around one month before the attack, Luan and other men visited Si at his house, and asked him to withdraw the accusation letter if he still wanted to live but Si didn’t oblige.

Truong was earlier accused of robbery and just served a four-year jail term from the Tay Ninh People’s Court. Luan is currently facing “gambling” charges while Khoa “kidnapping” and “appropriation”.

Reported by Dam Huy