Woman jailed for smuggling people to New Zealand

Tran Thi Hoa, 40, a native of the central province’s Loc Ha District, was guilty of "organizing for other persons to flee abroad or to stay abroad illegally," the court said on Wednesday.

It also ordered her to pay compensation of VND55 million ($2,382) to one of the victims.

In 2018 Hoa began to tell people she could help them migrate to New Zealand for a price of VND600 million. They had to pay VND500 million upfront and the rest after one to three months.

Between late 2018 and early 2019 she sent the three people to work illegally in New Zealand.

The prosecution said she kept VND450 million and handed over the rest to a ring she was working with.

Of the three people who went to New Zealand, two were arrested and deported while the remaining could not enter since they did not have a visa.

Following their complaints, the police arrested Hoa in December last year.

In June the court had sentenced her to 15 years in jail for "fraudulent appropriation of assets" for taking their money.