A Vietnamese woman and two Chinese men have been indicted for helping multiple Chinese nationals stay illicitly at a hotel in Da Nang.

A source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper confirmed on Monday morning that the Da Nang People’s Procuracy had issued an indictment against Chau Vy Anh, 29, who hails from the central city, and two Chinese men, 34-year-old Xiang Yi Pin and 25-year-old Ma Bing, for arranging for others to live unlawfully in Vietnam.

On July 31, 2020, immigration officers under the municipal Department of Public Security inspected Lemon Tree Hotel in Ngu Hanh Son District and found eight Chinese people without legitimate visas and passports.

A probe later revealed that the hotel belonged to a company director named Ho Ngoc Tham.

Tham said he had leased the venue to Xiang and Anh due to loss-making business operations in September 2019.

Meanwhile, Ma had worked at the hotel since late 2019 until he returned to China in January 2020.

However, the Chinese man entered Vietnam illegally in June the same year and dwell in the hotel.

Xiang and Anh were aware that Ma’s visa had expired but still agreed to let him stay at the hotel for a fee.

When a social distancing drive was implemented in Da Nang in July, Ma discussed with Xiang and Anh his plan to help more illegal Chinese migrants live in the hotel.

Between June 2 and July 31, 2020, Xiang and Anh colluded with Ma to organize for about 15 Chinese to stay at the hotel against the law.

After collecting room fees from these foreigners, Xiang and Anh paid Ma approximately VND200,000 (US$8.6) per room per day.

In order to execute the plan, Ma contacted a Chinese man named Lao Zhang via WeChat to arrange locations where he picked up the Chinese border jumpers and brought them to Lemon Tree Hotel.

Xiang also created a group chat on WeChat to exchange information with the illegal Chinese and helped them dodge police inspection.

Xiang and Anh assisted the foreigners in buying food and essential products during their stay.

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