Vietnamese woman jailed for blackmailing foreign lover

Dang Thi Thao Trang, 30, has been sentenced to three years in prison by a court in Ho Chi Minh City for blackmailing her foreign lover to appropriate money.

When her foreign lover wanted to end their relationship, Trang threatened to send intimate photos and clips of the two to his family and colleagues.

She demanded VND50 million ($2,050).

The prosecution determined that, in April 2021, Trang befriended a 52-year-old German man through a dating app. They developed an intimate relationsip.

He met with another women at the beginning of the year and wanted to break up with Trang. However, she tried to hold on to the relationship, but her efforts were in vain. An angry Trang then sent intimate pictures of them together to his family.

Together with three other men, the German later met up with Trang. He offered to pay her some money if she relocates and deletes intimate pictures. Trang agreed, asking for VND50 million. He said he did not have that much money on him and would make arrangements for it later.

Trang then continued to call and leave text messages, threatening to post the intimate pictures if her ex-lover did not pay up early.

On the afternoon of March 13, Trang was arrested while receiving the money from her former foreign lover.

During the investigation and at the court, Trang admitted her mistake, expressed remorse and asked for leniency.