Ly Thi N. writes a statement at an investigator's office in Hanoi. Photo credit: CAND

A woman in Hanoi allegedly hired a man to cut off her hand and foot in what is believed to be an attempt to scam an insurance company out of nearly VND4 billion ($180,000), local police said Tuesday.

Ly Thi N., 30, faked a railway accident to make a claim three months ago, police in Bac Tu Liem District said.

On May 5 Doan Van D., 21, reported to the police that a woman had been injured in a railway accident in Bac Tu Liem.

At the scene, the police found N. with her left hand and left foot severed.

She told the police she had been wandering near the railway track when a train that went by "dragged" her in.

D., a stranger, happened to be on the spot and saw the accident, she said.

Doan Van D. signs a statement at a police station in Hanoi. Photo: CAND.

However, the police later found out that N. and D. knew each other.

After further investigation, they established that N. had paid D. VND50 million to hack off her hand and foot and fake the accident to make the insurance claim.

A source told Thanh Nien that N. had incurred losses in her business and bought a large insurance policy.

The police said they are investigating further to decide what charges to bring against the duo.

Doctors reattached N.'s severed hand and foot, but had to remove them four days later after gangrene set in.