Vietnam jails Miss Grand International Thuy Tien in Kera gummy fraud case

The court delivered its verdict on Wednesday afternoon after a one-day trial, finding the defendants guilty of “deceiving customers” for spreading false claims about Kera gummies and earning nearly VND12.5 billion (US$475,000) in illicit profits.

False claims about 'one gummy equals a plate of vegetables'

According to the court, CER leaders and influencers knowingly promoted misleading information about the gummies’ ingredients and nutritional value.

Findings by investigators show that the gummy contained only 0.935 percent fiber, equivalent to 0.03g per piece; Asian Life Company had no VietGAP-certified raw material zone; ingredients and origin were never verified; and no scientific basis proved the claim 'one gummy equals one plate of vegetables.'

Despite this, the defendants issued a self-declaration listing 10 vegetable and fruit powders totaling 28.13 percent and repeatedly promoted the claims in live stream.

129,617 boxes sold to over 56,000 customers

From December 12, 2024 to March 14, 2025, the defendants live-streamed 14 times.

Among them, Nguyen Thi Thai Hang, known as ‘Hang Du Muc,' conducted five live streams. Pham Quang Linh, known as ‘Quang Linh Vlogs,’ live-streamed six times. Thuy Tien engaged in three live streams.

The group sold 129,617 boxes of Kera Supergreens Gummies to 56,385 customers, earning over VND17.5 billion ($665,000), with nearly VND12.5 billion deemed illegal profits.

Defendants acted with direct intent

The court ruled that all defendants acted intentionally, failed to check product quality, and approved deceptive marketing scripts.

Although they had no aggravating factors, they received prison sentences due to the significant financial harm.

The court decided to impose a three-year sentence on CER Group board member Le Thanh Cong, while sending CER director Le Tuan Linh to prison for three years and three months.

CER chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thai Hang, CER board member Pham Quang Linh, and Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien each received a two-year sentence.

All five were fined an additional VND50 million ($1,900) each.

The court ordered CER Group to refund money to 22 identified customers in Ho Chi Minh City, the only victims who had filed claims.

Other buyers may pursue compensation through a separate civil case.

Investigators determined that Golden Lotus Advertising Commercial JSC, which manages Thuy Tien, did not participate in the promotional activities. Her involvement was deemed personal, and the company was not criminally liable.

Thuy Tien, a former hotel management student at Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City, rose to international fame after winning the Miss Grand International 2021 title.

She had previously competed in numerous domestic and international beauty contests, and in 2021 she was honored with the ‘Outstanding Young Vietnamese Face’ award by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

She also appeared in many music videos and films.