Police in Hanoi have arrested two suspects who robbed a local bank with a gun and took more than VND900 million (US$38,800) earlier this week.

The municipal Department of Police confirmed on Wednesday morning they had apprehended Phung Huu Manh, 23, and Hoang Ngoc, 42.

Manh was captured on the same morning as he was hiding in the northern city of Hai Phong, while Ngoc was arrested in Lang Ha Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi on Tuesday night.

Manh and Ngoc are the two suspects in an armed robbery at a branch of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) at 27 Huynh Thuc Khang Street in Lang Ha Ward, Dong Da District on Monday morning.

At around 10:00 am that day, the two men walked from nearby Nguyen Hong Street toward the lender’s office.

After entering the venue, one of the suspects fired a warning shot from his homemade pistol to threaten the people inside.

He then walked toward the tellers’ counters, grabbing the cash and tossing it to his accessory, who put the money into a black bag.

The suspects also carried along another bag and told witnesses that it contained explosives in order to intimidate the victims.

Following the robbery, they exited the bank, stole a motorcycle, and fled the scene.

At the police station, Ngoc said he had planned the robbery and asked Manh to join him.

The suspect added he was heavily in debt resulting from his loss-making business.

One of Ngoc’s family members told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he previously owned an express delivery business named GNN Express.

Since the firm went bust in 2018, Ngoc has cut off all contact with his family.

In a 2017 statement, Ngoc said his company still owed VND7.1 billion ($306,500) in loans and debts.

The man later said he wished to be sent to jail for “abuse of trust to appropriate property.”

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