Former wife of Mr. Hunter reveals origin of 143
gold bars seized by police
In the supplemental investigative conclusion of the Mr. Pips case, the Hanoi Police Investigation Agency determined that Mr. Hunter, together with Mr. Pips, organized and operated an
investment fraud ring. The defendant is accused of embezzling more than 344 billion VND, and then laundering the money by purchasing four real estate properties and 143 gold bars. When inspecting the residence of Mr. Hunter's former wife, Ngo Thi Theu (the supplemental conclusion shows both had divorced), the police seized these gold bars.
The couple fled abroad
The Hanoi Police Department's Investigation Bureau issued a supplemental investigation conclusion, requesting charges against 188 suspects in the fraud and asset misappropriation ring led by Phó Đức Nam (Mr. Pips).
In the case, the defendants Le Khac Ngo (Mr. Hunter) and Ngo Thi Theu (Ngo's wife) are charged with “fraud and asset misappropriation.” Ngo is identified as the ringleader, who established and managed multiple offices employing dozens of staff.
According to the conclusion, in 2019 Ngo discussed with Nam the expansion of a nationwide network of stock and
forex trading desks in Vietnam. He was subsequently assigned by Nam to manage 20 offices to lure victims into investments to commit asset appropriation.
Ngo is responsible for 287 fraud cases, misappropriating more than 344 billion VND. The defendant also laundered money by purchasing four real estate properties and 143 gold ingots.
This supplemental conclusion shows that Le Khac Ngo and Ngo Thi Theu are divorced but does not specify when the divorce occurred.
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Ngo Thi Theu, wearing white.
It is learned that after the case was filed, many defendants were detained; Ngo fled Vietnam for Cambodia.
In September 2025, he was arrested by Philippine police for illegal entry. On December 13, 2025, Hanoi Police coordinated with the Philippines authorities to complete the procedures to bring Le Khac Ngo from the Philippines back to Hanoi safely, in accordance with law and international practice.
Ngo Thi Theu also took her child abroad. In May 2025, police found Ngo Thi Theu residing illegally in Thailand; Thai police, in cooperation with the Vietnamese Office of Interpol, confirmed she was pursued by Vietnam, and Thailand subsequently arrested her.
With permission from the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security, mid-August 2025, a task force from the Office of the Investigation Police and Hanoi Police went to Thailand to receive Ngo Theu and bring her back to Vietnam.
Investigations show Theu knew well the personnel, structure, and operation methods of the fraud organization led by Nam and Ngo.
As Theu was married to Ngo and a schoolmate of Đào Văn Nam (Nam married Theu’s sister), in 2021 Theu intervened to recruit Nam into the fraud network.
During work, as Nam was promoted to higher management and then Office Manager, Nam would notify Theu, who was instructed to encourage continued work. The collected documents provide sufficient basis to conclude Ngo Thi Theu committed the crime of “fraud and asset misappropriation” as an accomplice.
Hundreds of gold bars and dozens of properties were involved.
Inspecting Theu's residence, police seized 143 gold bars. The defendant claimed she only knew the gold belonged to Nam’s children. Nam was the person who transferred the gold into the safe and never opened it.
In the money laundering actions by Le Khac Ngo, investigations show the aim was to legitimize the origin of funds derived from crime, as well as to invest and accumulate assets; he bought four real estate properties valued at more than 7.1 billion VND.
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Le Khac Ngo, the defendant.
In the apartment at S2.2906, Goldmark area, 136 Ho Tung Mau (Hanoi) purchased in 2020, at that time Theu and Ngo were still married; they each contributed half of the purchase price, paying more than 3.2 billion to the investor.
After the divorce, Ngo and Theu agreed that the apartment belonged to Theu, and Ngo had paid more than 1.6 billion to acquire the apartment mentioned above.
During the investigation, police also seized belongings of Ngo Thi Theu and Le Khac Ngo, including 18.3 billion VND and 84,825 USD, which were the funds Ngo handed to Theu for management while they were still married.
During searches of Theu's residence, police found cards, savings books, bank deposit certificates, and have verified and frozen the balances of 18 savings accounts.
Additionally, authorities determined two properties owned by Ngo; four houses owned by Theu in Hung Yen and Hanoi, as well as 34 land-use certificates and 11 documents related to the two defendants’ real estate assets.
Hoang An
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