A Vietnamese court has sentenced a former Miss Grand International and two other prominent influencers to two years in prison each for deceiving customers through false advertising of a health supplement.
The ruling, handed down by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on November 19, also imposed longer sentences on company executives involved in the scheme. The case marks a significant step in Vietnam’s ongoing crackdown on online fraud and misleading product claims.
Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, crowned Miss Grand International in 2021, was convicted alongside fellow influencers Nguyen Thi Thai Hang and Pham Quang Linh. They were found guilty of promoting “Kera” vegetable gummies with exaggerated health benefits.
Prosecutors stated that the defendants failed to ensure product quality and knowingly advertised false claims. These included assertions that “one candy equals one plate of vegetables,” despite the gummies having very low fiber content.
The court heard that the influencers collaborated to film videos and conducted six live-streamed sales events. During this period, they sold 129,617 boxes of the gummies to 56,385 customers.
These sales generated revenue exceeding $718,000, with illegal profits amounting to more than $510,000.
In addition to their prison terms, all convicted individuals were ordered to pay an additional fine of 50 million Vietnamese Dong, approximately $2,050 USD each.
Company executives received harsher penalties. Le Tuan Linh, director and legal representative of Chị Em Rọt Group, was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison. Executive Director Le Thanh Khong received a 3-year prison sentence.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Prosecutor acknowledged several mitigating factors for the influencers. These included honest testimony, expressed remorse, good personal records, and participation in charitable activities.
The influencers also raised over 1.3 billion Vietnamese Dong, roughly $53,000 USD, from their families to compensate affected customers before their arrest.
Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien rose to prominence after winning the international beauty pageant. Pham Quang Linh gained fame through videos assisting Angolan farmers and was appointed to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Nguyen Thi Thai Hang was widely known as a “Goddess of Live Streaming” due to her extensive sales record.
This trial represents the first instance this year of celebrities or influencers facing court proceedings in Vietnam for such offenses. It aligns with the government’s declared “war” on counterfeit products and false advertising, initiated earlier this year.
The companies implicated in the scheme were Chị Em Rọt Group, which contracted Asian Life to produce the SuperGreens Gummies.