Vic LJ Hooker agents face 400 charges

Two former Melbourne LJ Hooker real estate agents accused of misusing millions of dollars from clients could face up to 10 years in jail.

Truc Thanh Le "Judy" Nguyen and husband Tri Duc "Joseph" Ngo are alleged to have spent more than $2 million from clients' home deposits while she ran six LJ Hooker franchises in eastern Melbourne.

Consumer Affairs Victoria on Friday charged Nguyen with 216 offences and Ngo with 188 offences, related to the handling of trust money and the restrictions on agents purchasing property.

Some of the offences carry maximum sentences of 10 years in jail.

CAV director Simon Cohen has approved 58 Victorian Property Fund claims from affected clients.

A further 21 claims for rent money, totalling more than $34,000, have been paid from the balance of the estate agent's rental trust account.

Nguyen was sole director of JNT Law Investments, the operator of six offices in Glen Waverley, Keysborough, Mount Waverley, Burwood, Doncaster and Box Hill.

The six offices closed suddenly in April last year, with scores of customers and landlords claiming they had lost money.

CAV took physical possession of the offices after the closures.

A filing hearing for the case is expected to be heard in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on February 3.