HCMC – Do Van Minh, 49, Party secretary of Lien Ha Commune in Lam Dong Province, has been accused of murdering his nephew-in-law and staging what looks like a fatal accident to illegally gain VND18 billion in insurance payouts.
Speaking at a press briefing on May 11, the Dak Nong police noted that during their preliminary investigation after arresting the culprit the previous day, Minh had admitted to purchasing life insurance with an annual premium of over VND200 million in early April. Upon his death, his family members would be paid VND18 billion by the insurance company.
Having incurred a debt of over VND10 billion, Minh allegedly decided to fake his death, so his wife and children could receive the insurance payout.
Minh owns two farms in Dak G’Long District in Dak Nong Province, which he visits on Fridays and Saturdays.
On May 3, Minh visited the farm of his nephew in law Tran Nho Vuong in Dak Nong Province, where he ate dinner. At 5 a.m. the next day, Minh killed the 25-year-old man with a hammer.
He then transported his nephew-in-law’s body in a pickup truck on National Highway 28 in Dak G’Long District, crashed into a roadside pillar and used gasoline to set the vehicle and the deceased on fire to stage an accident.
Minh then fled the scene to Dong Xoai City, Binh Phuoc Province, the local media reported.
The Dak Nong police have yet to determine the level of involvement of his family members in the incident.
On May 4, the wreckage of the pickup truck and its burned occupant were found on National Highway 28.
Minh was arrested in Binh Phuoc Province on May 10.
