HANOI: A top Vietnamese property tycoon went on trial on Tuesday accused of cheating thousands of investors in a $355-million bond scam, in the communist nation's latest criminal case targeting high-flying business leaders.

Vietnam has embarked on a sweeping graft crackdown in recent years, with corrupt officials and senior business figures among 4,400 people indicted in more than 1,700 cases since 2021.

ON THE DOCK Do Anh Dung (center), chairman of Tan Hoang Minh group, is escorted by police officers to a court for his trial on fraud charges in Hanoi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, for cheating thousands of investors in a $355-million bond scam. AFP PHOTO

Do Anh Dung, head of the Tan Hoang Minh group, which specializes in lWuxury offices and apartments, went on trial in Hanoi on Tuesday alongside his son Do Hoang Viet and 13 others on fraud charges.

They are accused of illegally acquiring $355 million in a bond sale to 6,630 investors all of whom have been invited to attend the trial, which is expected to last around three weeks.

Thousands took up the invitation and poured into the Hanoi People's Court, where a large viewing area was set up with CCTV to allow the victims to follow proceedings.

According to previous state media reports, by January 2022, the Tan Hoang Minh group was struggling with debts of some $810 million because of stalled projects and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The defendants sold bonds to raise capital, promising investors high returns, but embezzled the $355 million raised, VNexpress news site reported, quoting a copy of the indictment.

The father and son have already repaid the $355 million as restitution to the affected parties, state media have reported.

More than 1,000 victims have submitted letters to the court asking for leniency for the defendants.

In the country's biggest-ever fraud case, Truong My Lan, chairman of the Van Thinh Phat property development group, is currently on trial in Ho Chi Minh City accused of embezzling $12.5 billion.

This trial of 86 people, including former senior state bank and government officials, is expected to end in late April.