Phan Van Vinh, former official from the Ministry of Public Security, who were accused of abusing their positions and power in the case (Photo: VNA) Phu Tho (VNA) – The People’s Court ofthe northern province of Phu Tho announced on October 29 that it would be holdingthe first instance trial on November 12 for 92 people accused of involvement ina major online gambling ring.
The defendantswill be prosecuted for charges including the organisation of gambling,gambling, abusing position and power while performing duties, illegally tradinginvoices, laundering money, and using the internet for asset appropriation.
Another 73 additionalpeople whose rights and interests were involved in the case will also be presentat the court.
There willbe 30 defence counsels for the defendants and three others for the 73 people mentionedabove.
Phan VanVinh and Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former officials from the Ministry of PublicSecurity, who were accused of abusing their positions and power in the case,have each invited three defence counsels. Meanwhile, Phan Sao Nam and NguyenVan Duong, accused of being the masterminds behind the online gambling ring,will have five and three defence counsels at the first instance, respectively.
During anearlier probe, Phu Tho police launched criminal proceedings against 105 peoplefor the seven charges. However, the investigations into 13 of them, 12 of whom werebeing hunted, were suspended.
They said there is sufficient evidence to confirm that the online gambling ringthrough the card game Rikvip/Tip.club was led by Phan Sao Nam (former Chairmanof the Board of Directors and Director of the VTC Online TelecommunicationsCo.) and Nguyen Van Duong (former Chairman of the Member Council of the High-techSecurity Development and Investment Ltd Co.).
The ring included 25 tier-1 outlets, 5,877 tier-2 outlets, and 42,956,718gambling accounts. It was found to have gained more than 9.85 trillion VND(428.2 million USD) in revenue from online gambling.
Deducting more than 3.7 trillion VND (160.9 million USD) paid for by gamblersand involved companies to cover management costs, staff salary, and tax; theinvolved persons received some 4.71 trillion VND (204.8 million USD), including1.47 trillion VND (63.9 million USD) for Phan Sao Nam and 1.65 trillion VND(71.7 million USD) for Nguyen Van Duong.
The investigation agency has seized more than 1.34 trillion VND (58.3 millionUSD) from the ring organisers and accomplices.
Phu Tho police said they also have sufficient ground to ask for the prosecutionof Phan Van Vinh, former Lieutenant General and former Director General of thePolice General Department under the Ministry of Public Security; and NguyenThanh Hoa, former Major General and former Director of the ministry’s High-techCrime Police Department, for abusing their positions and power in associationwith the case. –VNA
VNA
