A local woman has been fined nearly VND10 billion (US$440,529) for manipulating the price of a Hanoi Stock Exchange-listed share, the State Security Commission of Vietnam said Tuesday.

Do Thi Cam Thuy had asked 15 individuals to open 28 stock accounts at four different securities firms in Hanoi, besides having her own account.

Between September 1, 2015 and May 13, 2016, these 29 accounts repeatedly traded the SPI stock, issued by the Stone Company Spilit Joint Stock Company, creating a false demand for the share and manipulating its price.

Police looked into the case and concluded on November 28 that Thuy was behind the stock price manipulation.

However, the State Security Commission of Vietnam admitted that there was not enough ground to criminally charge the investor, and it could only levy a VND600 million ($26,432) civil fine on her.

The investor was also asked to pay back more than VND9.28 billion ($408,811) worth of profit she enjoyed by manipulating the prices of SPI shares, according to the commission.

Thuy therefore has to pay VND9.88 billion ($435,242) for her offense.