Vietnam police seek victims in Australian-linked loan fraud

The Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security announced on Wednesday that
Ranjit Thambyrajah, a 65-year-old Australian who heads Berhero company operating under the name Acuity Funding based in Australia, while serving as General Director of Nam Song Hau Petroleum Trading and Investment JSC; and Nguyen Viet Anh, 43, a dual Vietnamese-Australian national running Acuity Funding Vietnam and Deputy General Director of the same Vietnamese company, allegedly defrauded multiple businesses and individuals.

The pair promised loans ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of U.S. dollars, then collected hefty "service fees" despite lacking any lending capacity, investigators said.

On Oct. 13, the agency initiated criminal proceedings against the case of "fraudulent appropriation of property" in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and other localities under the Penal Code. Thambyrajah and Anh were detained for investigation on Oct. 13 and 20.

Any entity or individual who wired fees to Thambyrajah and Acuity Funding qualifies as a victim, investigators said.

To ensure a thorough investigation, the ministry called on all affected parties to contact the agency for legal processings. They may reach out directly to investigator Le Quang Hung at 0936.87.88.88 for guidance and further assistance in line with regulations.