Six jailed for faking Covid test results, travel papers

Diep Tu Hieu, Tran Xuan Dat and Nguyen Phuoc each received two-year sentences, while Nguyen Tung Lam, Vo Duy Tan and Kieu Minh Hoa received one year and three months in jail each for "fabricating an organization's seal or documents and use thereof," Phan Thiet Town People's Court ruled Thursday.

In September last year, when Covid-19 outbreaks were raging in Vietnam, authorities of Phan Thiet formed checkpoints to restrict travel. In order to pass them, people would need certain documents, like travel permits and Covid-19 test results showing one was not infected.

Dat hired Hieu to forge around 80 Covid-19 test results, then either handed them or sold them to several people, allowing them to pass Covid-19 checkpoints. The scam only came to light when a person tried to use the fake test result to sign up for Covid-19 vaccination.

Phuoc also hired Hieu to fake 10 Covid-19 test results and two travel papers at the price of VND250,000 ($10.55) per document.

The others were further implicated in several cases of forgery.