Jail term likely for ex-LJ Hooker agent Tri Duc Ngo, court hears
A DODGY real estate agent who admits blowing millions of dollars of clients’ cash on jewellery and drugs is in jail after being remanded in custody to await sentencing.
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A DODGY real estate agent who admitted blowing millions of dollars of clients’ cash on jewellery and drugs is in jail after being remanded in custody to await sentencing.
Former L J Hooker agent Tri Duc Ngo, who also goes by the name Joseph Ngo, was remanded on Tuesday morning after being given a day of bail on Monday to collect his medication.
Judge Michael Bourke ordered Ngo to return to court at 9.30am. Mr Bourke has yet to set a date for sentencing.
Ngo has pleaded guilty to 48 charges relating to the misappropriation of $6.49 million, and has been warned to prepare himself for a stint in the jailhouse.
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His wife and co-accused, Judy Nguyen, also known as Truc Thanh Le Nguyen, has pleaded not guilty to 345 charges.
Mr Bourke told Ngo his actions had caused “a great deal of distress” for his clients, and a non-custodial penalty would be a “disproportionate sentence”.
“Most people have to buy and sell family homes, so general deterrence becomes important. They deserve protection,” the judge said.
The County Court heard the father of four had expressed “genuine remorse” for his crimes, committed while he worked as an agent across six L J Hooker offices in Melbourne’s east in 2015 and 2016.
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Prosecutor Robyn Harper urged Judge Bourke to impose “a significant term of immediate imprisonment”, saying the scale of Ngo’s crimes, involving more than 46 properties and the misappropriation of $6.49 million from a substantial number of victims, was “massive”.
“It would appear ... some of the money was used to pay back other clients,” she said.
She said the Victorian Property Fund had paid victims $2.5 million compensation.
The court heard Ngo suffered from a serious mental illness that had caused hallucinations and a suicide attempt.
Judge Bourke accepted that imprisonment would be more difficult for someone with a mental disorder.
In November, the court heard Ngo had splashed stolen cash at high-end jewellery stores including Swarovski and Tiffany & Co, as well as on household bills and an ice addiction that might have “influenced” his mental condition.
That hearing was adjourned so a forensic psychiatrist could examine any link between his mental illness and the crimes.
Erol Cinar, for Ngo, told the court his client had developed a schizoaffective disorder in his childhood, and suffered “severe visual hallucinations”.
A psychiatrist had determined Ngo’s condition involved “a degree of genetic biological predisposition”, influenced by his ice use.
“He has attempted suicide ... fuelled by his desire to escape the hallucinations,” he said.
Mr Cinar said Ngo had “confessed to his crimes and expressed genuine remorse” and had co-operated with the investigation.
He asked that his client be placed on a Community Corrections Order, arguing Ngo’s four children — specifically the youngest, 4, — would be affected by his jailing.
“Mr Ngo is a deeply religious man, … an active member of the church and Vietnamese community,” Mr Cinar said.
“He hopes to become a priest and social worker ... and assist young people with addiction,”
Ngo’s charges, relating to fraudulent conversion of money for his own use, carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail. He also faces seven summary offences of breaching restrictions on sales where an agent has a “beneficial interest”, the maximum penalty for which is two years’ jail.
Ms Nguyen is due to stand trial next year.