Customer makes misleading statements of deposit loss: Sacombank

Ho Thi Thuy Duong, a Sacombank customer in the case of a VND46.9 billion ($1.99 million) deposit loss, had made misleading statements that did not reflect the core truth, the bank announced on Friday.

Previously, the 46-year-old woman from Cam Phu ward, Cam Ranh town said that in May 2022, she had discovered VND46.9 billion ($1.99 million) in her personal account had been illegally withdrawn by employees at Sacombank's Cam Ranh transaction office.

In response, Sacombank said it had detected documents showing Duong had business cooperation with former Cam Ranh transaction office staff which is not related to the bank for many years.

Such documents were supplied by the bankers and recorded by legal authorities on October 16, 2022, the lender added.

For the 12 transactions that Duong claimed as deposit losses, Sacombank said it holds 12 documents with Duong’s signatures which show she received the money or authorized others to spend the money. Those files were transferred to Khanh Hoa Police.

The bank also noted that it has cooperated with Duong in solving related issues. In particular, on December 26, 2022, Duong suggested Sacombank provide her VND15 billion ($635,900) to continue business operations pending the investigation. The lender agreed with the proposal but then Duong changed her mind and refused the money.

Sacombank highlighted it would not ignore its responsibility to Duong and other customers in the case related to the Cam Ranh transaction office, however, all processes must follow the regulations and abide by conclusions of relevant authorities.

Khanh Hoa police launched an investigation into the case on November 18, 2022.

Previously, customers had reported their deposits at the transaction office in Khanh Hoa's Cam Ranh town had disappeared.

Pham Tan Minh, director of Sacombank's branch in Khanh Hoa province, has been dismissed from his post after four staff members at its Cam Ranh transaction office were arrested for alleged property embezzlement.

A leader of Sacombank Khanh Hoa admitted that many other customers depositing money at the bank's Cam Ranh transaction office had also lost money. These cases are under investigation.

Ho Thi Thuy Duong said that in May 2022, she discovered VND46.9 billion ($1.99 million) in her account had disappeared. She said she did not make any withdrawals at the counter or transfers via internet banking.

Worth mentioning, these transactions were performed without any message of account balance changes sent to her phone, she claimed. The statement also showed that nine cash withdrawals were made from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when the transaction offices were closed.