Trần Thị Lãm embezzled more than 90 tons of processed coffee beans that 34 households had entrusted to her agency—worth over 2.3 billion VND—and sold it off to pay her debts. She also borrowed more than 600 million VND from several local residents and kept the money.
On June 15, the Criminal Investigation Police of Krông Ana District (Đắk Lắk Province) announced that they are preparing to hand the case over to the provincial police for prosecution of Trần Thị Lãm (56), a resident of Kruế hamlet, Ea Bông commune.
From 2000 to late 2009, Lãm operated a small-scale coffee business, buying fresh cherries, processing them into dried beans, and profiting from the processing fees and price differences. When business looked promising, she opened a coffee-buying agency called “Yên Hòa.” During this time she borrowed money at interest to expand her trade, but soon faced financial trouble and could not repay her debts.
While trading, 41 households from Ea Na, Ea Bông and Băng Adrênh entrusted her with over 100 tons of coffee. From late 2009 to early 2010, she appropriated more than 90 tons of those beans—then worth over 2.3 billion VND—and sold them to settle her own debts. She also borrowed over 600 million VND in cash from villagers and failed to return it.
Earlier, on June 12, Krông Ana District Police arrested Nguyễn Văn Nam (42) of Tân Lập hamlet, Ea Na commune, owner of the Nam Hải coffee agency, for abuse of trust and misappropriation of property. Nam had taken in over 54.5 tons of coffee beans (valued at more than 1.4 billion VND) on consignment and borrowed 60 million VND from a local resident, Dương Thị Tuyết. Unable to repay, he shut down his agency and fled.