Police seek victims in Australian-Vietnamese fraud probe

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.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - The Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security on November 12 urged victims of a sprawling loan scam to come forward, as they probe two executives accused of pocketing fees for nonexistent multibillion-dollar financing.

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 US dollars, then collected hefty “service fees” despite lacking any lending capacity, investigators said.

On October 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 Article 174 of the 2015 Penal Code. Thambyrajah and Anh were detained for investigation on October 13 and October 20, respectively.

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./.

VNA

See more

Young people take part in activities at the event to mark International Youth Day 2026 in Hanoi on August 9 (Photo: VNA)

Over 40 youth-led initiatives introduced at International Youth Day 2026

The event, organised by the Youth Advisory Group of the UN in Vietnam, brought together 44 youth groups, social enterprises, educational institutions and UN-supported programmes. Exhibition booths and interactive activities at the event introduced solutions created and led by young people.

The flag-raising ceremony at the A Pa Chai flagpole in Sin Thau commune, Dien Bien province (Photo: VNA)

“I Love My Fatherland” journey reaches Dien Bien

The "I Love My Fatherland" journey is an annual nationwide programme aimed at promoting patriotism, revolutionary ideals and civic responsibility among Vietnam's youth through visits to historical, cultural and sovereignty landmarks across the country.

Officers of the Dong Thap provincial Border Guard give gifts and provide information on IUU fishing control and prevention to fishermen at Vam Lang fishing port, Gia Thuan commune, Dong Thap province. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Thap tightens fishing vessel management

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, acting as the standing agency of Dong Thap's IUU Steering Committee, has been tasked with reviewing and updating the province's action plan to address recommendations raised during the EC's fifth inspection mission on Vietnam's anti-IUU efforts.

At the launch ceremony (Photo: VNA)

French-language newspaper launches video contest

The contest, announced this week, is a video-based evolution of the newspaper's 'Jeunes Reporters Francophones' competition, which has run for ten seasons since its 2016 launch with backing from the Asia-Pacific regional office of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Since the beginning of the year, Ca Mau provinces have inspected 100% of fishing vessels arriving at and departing from designated fishing ports in accordance with regulations. (Photo: VNA)

Ca Mau launches peak campaign to combat IUU fishing

As one of Vietnam’s largest fishing centres, with an extensive coastline and a sizeable offshore fleet, Ca Mau considers combating IUU fishing a top political priority. Provincial authorities said recent efforts have yielded positive results, particularly in fisheries management and law enforcement.

A consumer scans a product code to check its origin (Photo: VNA)

Legal safeguards for consumers in digital economy strengthened

Part of the Government's plan to implement the Law on Protection of Consumers’ Rights for the 2024-2026 period, the event highlighted key provisions of the law and its guiding documents, while updating participants on decentralised state management, complaint handling, dispute resolution and inter-agency coordination.

Foreign tourists on a beach in Phu Quoc. Phu Quoc will launch English training courses for local vendors, taxi drivers, tourism and service workers from September as part of preparations for the APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week. (Photo: VNA)

Phu Quoc launches English classes for vendors, drivers ahead of APEC 2027

Under the project “Enhancing foreign language capacity for the community in the 2026–30 period, with a vision to 2045”, recently announced by the Phu Quoc Special Zone authorities, English programmes will be piloted at 10-15 schools across all three education levels from September 2026 to June 2027.

Fishing vessels owned by local fishermen are anchored off the coast of Ha Tien, An Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

An Giang takes zero-tolerance approach to IUU fishing

Alongside the continued implementation of comprehensive anti-IUU fishing measures, An Giang has proposed that the Government promptly introduce policies to support fishermen in switching livelihoods and decommissioning nearshore fishing vessels in order to conserve natural fisheries resources.

Defendant Nguyen Thanh Hiep is informed of procedural decisions by the police. (Photo: VNA)

Singer, media executive charged over YouTube music copyright infringement

The Investigation Police Agency under the municipal Public Security Department said on August 5 that it had prosecuted and placed in temporary detention Nguyen Thi Hien, owner of the YouTube channel Phuong Diem Huyen, and Nguyen Thanh Hiep, Director of Unicorn Vietnam Media and Entertainment Co., Ltd., for investigation on the charge of infringing copyright and related rights under Article 225 of Vietnam's Penal Code.