According to the indictment, the ring leaders might face maximum punishments of 15 years behind bars.
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.
There are 92 culprits including former Lieutenant General Vinh – former head of the General Department of the Police under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), former Major General Nguyen Thanh Hoa – Police Department for Hi-tech Crime Prevention, Phan Sao Nam and Nguyen Dai Duong, who both ran online gambling rings.
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.
Defendants are seen at the court on November 12. Photo: Dan Tri
|
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.
Other News
- Supermarkets in Hanoi offer promotions during national holidays
- Passengers crowd bus stations in Hanoi to move away for holidays
- Hanoi takes drastic action against environmental violations
- Voluntary social security should cover larger part of informal sector: Experts
- Excellent quality goods aim further than domestic market
- Hanoi launches occupational safety action month
- Hanoi digitizes public transport ticketing
- A new lease on life for Hanoi's community library system
- Gen-Z workers driven by career advancement and work environment
- Wide range of World Water Day 2024 activities in Vietnam
Trending
-
Hanoi’s integral role in national unification drive
-
Vietnamese people flock to Dien Bien Phu to commemorate resounding victory
-
Art exhibition combining tradition and modernity
-
Carnaval Ha Long 2024 woos tourists with fireworks and drone light shows
-
Affordable, quality tours offered at Hanoi Tourism Festival 2024
-
Introduction of community tourism area in Hanoi herb kingdom
-
Capital Law revision helps Hanoi promote role as nation’s socio-economic hub
-
IT training urged to focus on semiconductors
-
Voluntary social security should cover larger part of informal sector: Experts