According to the indictment, around early 2021, Nguyen Dinh Ty (born 1997, from Hoai Duc) opened the Hoang Gia Karaoke Bar in Van Con commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi. The bar had three karaoke rooms and operated without a business license. To attract more customers and increase revenue, Ty recruited or purchased young women from various provinces to work as hostesses.

In early August 2023, Ty hired Luong Xuan Canh (born 2005, from Thanh Hoa) to escort customers to rooms, clean the karaoke spaces, and assist with staff management.

From May 2023 to August 17, 2023, Ty was accused of repeated offenses, including human trafficking, trafficking minors under 16, raping minors, engaging in sexual acts with minors aged 13 to under 16, harboring prostitution, and organizing illegal gambling.

Meanwhile, in Hop Hoa township, Tam Duong district, Vinh Phuc province, Nguyen Van Lam (born 1998, from Vinh Phuc) opened the NewWord Karaoke Bar. In May 2022, Lam hired Trinh Thi Nhu (born 2001) and Tran Dai Ka (born 1999) to manage the bar’s female staff.

To find new hostesses, Lam turned to Facebook groups. Around mid-May 2023, Lam and Ka bought a woman referred to as H. (born 2000) from an unknown man for 20 million VND (about 800 USD). However, when brought to the bar, H. was unable to perform her duties and did not attract customers. Lam then instructed Ka to sell her to another venue.

Nguyen Dinh Ty, owner of Hoang Gia, learned of the situation and contacted Ka to purchase H. After reviewing her photo, Ty agreed to buy her for 25 million VND (around 1,000 USD) and brought her to his bar on May 21, 2023.

Young girls purchased to serve karaoke bar clients

The indictment also alleges that in late May 2023, Lam and Ka bought a girl named Ksor (born 2007) from an unknown man for 18 million VND (approximately 720 USD).

Due to her appearance, Lam told Ka to resell her. Ty later bought Ksor for 19 million VND (around 760 USD). At the time, she was just over 15 years old.

Once the girls were brought to Hoang Gia Karaoke Bar, they were required to wear revealing outfits while serving customers. Guests were allowed to touch them inappropriately and were charged 200,000 to 250,000 VND per hour (8 to 10 USD). The girls received 100,000 to 120,000 VND (4 to 5 USD) of that amount.

Ty also permitted sexual services to take place at the venue, either in karaoke rooms or restrooms. Each encounter cost customers 300,000 to 500,000 VND (12 to 20 USD), paid directly to the girl.

Investigators found that before allowing Ksor to serve customers, Ty had sex with her twice while she was still under 16. He also had sex five times with another girl who had just started working at the bar and was under 13.

The families of both victims demanded 150 million VND (about 6,000 USD) in compensation from Ty.

Searching for “supplies”

The investigation also identified Nguyen Xuan Tinh (born 1994, from Thai Binh) as a suspect. Unemployed, Tinh had previously worked as a receptionist at several Hanoi karaoke bars and was familiar with the demand for female hostesses.

Around June 2023, Tinh traveled through Binh Duong province looking for “supplies” to sell to Hanoi karaoke venues. A woman introduced him to a girl named Y. (born 2006). After convincing her to come to Hanoi for work, Tinh transported and sold her for 7 million VND (about 280 USD).

Authorities concluded that in addition to trafficking and child sexual abuse, the defendants were also involved in illegal gambling through lottery number sales.

On April 15, the Hanoi People’s Court opened a first-instance trial. However, the hearing was postponed due to the absence of the victims.

T. Nhung