A court in Vietnam’s northern province of Phu Tho on November 12 began a trial of a multi-billion dollar case involving in a former lieutenant general and many high-profile police officers. 
Defendants are seen at the court on November 12. Photo: Dan Tri
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According to the indictment, Vinh and Hoa were charged with influence peddling with maximum punishment of 15 years in prison while Duong and Nam were accused of gambling organization and money laundering with the highest penalty of 10 years behind bars.
The indictment showed that in 2011, Vinh asked Hoa to set up a shell company with the involvement of Nguyen Van Duong under the department’s management. In 2015, Phan Sao Nam colluded with Duong to launch gambling games named Rikvip and 23zdo.
Since 2016, Vinh asked his officials to seek permissions for the operations of two gambling portals from the Ministry of Police and the Ministry of Information and Communications.
Vinh and Hoa reported to the MPS the plans of wiping out the gambling rings but they did nothing.
Gambling at all kinds is banned in Vietnam.
Doan Minh Huong, head of Phu Tho People’s Procuracy, said that more than 100 investigators made more than 1,000 trips to 24 cities and provinces nationwide to investigate the case.
The police arrested Vinh on April 6, 2018.
Duong and Nam had run different online gambling apps attracting 42 million accounts, illicitly profiting more than VND9.8 trillion (US$426 million).
The trial, with the presence of 33 counsels, will last for 15 days.
