Four more prosecuted for involvement in biggest gambling ring probe
Phu Tho province Police’s Investigation Security Agency has widened the scope of an illegal online gambling investigation in Phu Tho province and some other cities and provinces, the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) announced on April 9.
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| Chau Nguyen Anh, CEO of VNPT EPAY, and Pham Quang Minh, Sales Director of VNPT EPAY. (Source: VMA) |
The agency launched criminal proceedings against and detained Chau Nguyen Anh, CEO of VNPT EPAY and Pham Quang Minh, Sales Director of VNPT EPAY, both residing in Hanoi, for “organising gambling” and “illegally trading invoices”.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Dinh Chien, a businessperson born in 1976 and residing in Ha Dong district, Hanoi, was arrested and prosecuted on the charge of “illegally trading invoices”.
Criminal proceedings were also initiated against Le Anh Tuan, Director of TNC Technology JSC, born in 1983 and residing in Ha Dong district, Hanoi, for the same charge. Tuan has been banned from travelling away from his residential area.
On April 9, the agency searched the workplaces of the arrestees to collect documents, objects, equipment and electronic data related to the case.
The probe initially found that the money paid via legal and illegal payment gateways in the online gambling case exceeded VND9.58 trillion (about US$422 million), including more than VND9.29 trillion via pre-paid telecom cards and game cards, accounting for 97% of the total money involved. Some VND5.6 trillion (US$246.4 million) was paid in cash or sent via bank transfers.
In relation to this case, on March 11, the agency launched proceedings against and detained Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former Major General and former director of the MoPS’s police department for high-tech crimes, for organising gambling.
On April 6, Phan Van Vinh, former Lieutenant General and former Director General of the MoPS’s Police General Department, was prosecuted on the charge of “abusing position and power while performing duties”.
