Ho Chih Min City - Five people, including a Dutch citizen, have been sent to jail in Can Tho for swindling people out of VND2.3 billion (S$163, 884) by hiring their cars and pawning them.

The Can Tho City People's Court on Wednesday handed down a 15-year sentence to Nguyen Duc Huu, 50, of the Netherlands and a 14-year term to his wife, Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, 46. An associate, Nguyen Trung Vinh, 60, got 10 years.

Nguyen Nhat Phi and Nguyen Trung Binh, both 29, got suspended sentences of three and two years, respectively.

Huu and Trang were also ordered to return the VND2.3 billion (S$163, 884) to the victims.

The couple, who ran Thien Phuc Company in Long An Province to trade in timber and wooden products, rented cars from individuals in HCM City, faked their papers, and mortgaged them to get loans.

They palmed off eight Toyota Innova minivans in this fashion in An Giang, Vung Tau, and Can Tho in June and July last year, getting VND300 million-400 million for each. They were captured while trying to pawn a ninth vehicle at a shop in Can Tho.