Man arrested for forcing 57 to work in illegal factory in Russia

Phan Cong Quoc, 36, a resident in Soc Trang Province, is under investigation for “forcing others to illegally stay abroad” in accordance with the Penal Code.

According to police, Quoc came to Russia in 2007 as a visitor and stayed back to work for a garment factory.

Four years later, he rented a premises in Moscow and operated his own garment factory without any licenses.

He then told his family in Vietnam to recommend people to come to Russia and work for him for three years.

As Quoc ruled, each person who applied to work in his factory must pay a fee of VND40 million ($1,630).

Between 2012 and 2016, he had tricked 57 people, most from the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, and the rest from Hanoi.

Once those people got to Russia, Quoc locked them up in his factory, forced them to work, and seized all their ID papers.

Anyone who wanted to leave must contact their families in Vietnam and tell them to transfer him VND60 million.

Some people agreed to pay to get home.

Once returning to Vietnam, they reported Quoc to the police.

Police arrested Quoc on Tuesday when he was visiting his hometown.

Inspecting his residence, police found many contracts and ID papers of the people Quoc had tricked to work in Russia.