Five suspects have been arrested for robbing more than VND29 million (US$1,375) and an alleged fortune of 25 taels of gold (currently worth around US$41,500) from an 86-year-old beggar in the southern Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.

The suspects, aged between 17 and 28, have been charged with robbery, Thai Thi My Trang, spokeswoman of Dong Thap police department said on Thursday.

The victim is Nguyen Van Cung, a resident in Tan Thanh commune, Tan Hong district in Dong Thap.

Cung was robbed when he was sleeping at a market in Tram Chim town.

According to the police spokeswoman, Cung used to live with his descendants in Tan Hong but due to a family conflict, he left home and lives by begging at various markets in the province. He used the alms to buy gold. 

The beggar told police that he had 25 taels of gold in his pant pockets robbed.  

According to Dong Thap newspaper, Cung said the robbers used force to strip his pants off to rob the gold and cash.

On December 22, police in Tam Nong district arrested the suspects and seized from them 4.5 tales of gold (worth $7,500), a gold necklace, a gold ring, a gold arm-lace, and VND29 million in cash.