The Saigon-Hanoi Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SHB) Monday suspended two employees for allegedly faking a passbook worth VND50 billion (US$2.56 million) at its branch in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

 

A periodic check carried out by the bank on December 8 found Nguyen Thi Truc Kieu, deputy chief of the branch’s accounting – finance department, and Chu Thi Hang Nga, supervisor of the customer service department having faked the passbook for a man named Vu Xuan Lai.

 

Initial investigations showed that early last month Lai had come to the branch and expressed interest in depositing some VND10 trillion ($513.34 million) which he said was a loan with low interest rates obtained from a foreign organization.

 

Lai suggested to the two employees that they make a passbook with VND50 billion as a test for using the funds, and they agreed to do it although money was yet to be deposited.

 

Upon receiving the book, Lai, a Hanoian, took it with him, but did not return.

 

However, he was arrested on December 9, and submitted the passbook to police.

 

Investigations into the case are still under way.