Two former Vietnamese officials sentenced to prison for involvement in $106 million illegal gambling ring operated from Hanoi hotel by South Koreans
HANOI: A Vietnamese court has sentenced two former local officials to prison for their involvement in an illegal gambling operation worth over $100 million.
The pair participated in a sophisticated gambling ring operated by South Koreans from an upscale Hanoi hotel, according to state media reports.
Prosecutors alleged the network included more than 140 individuals, including former government officials, Communist Party members, entertainers, and businesspeople.
The King Club at the five-star Pullman Hotel featured slot machines, roulette, and baccarat tables licensed exclusively for foreign patrons.
Vietnamese citizens are largely prohibited from gambling under national law, but prosecutors said local gamblers received membership cards with fabricated foreign identities.
Ho Dai Dung, former vice-chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
He reportedly wagered more than $7 million across 95 gambling sessions at the establishment.
Ngo Ngoc Duc, former party secretary for Hoa Binh City, was sentenced to three years in prison for betting $4.2 million.
Authorities continue to seek the alleged mastermind, South Korean national Kim In Sung, whose company leased the casino space.
Kim is accused of fleeing to South Korea with over $9 million belonging to unsuccessful gamblers.
Vietnam’s public security ministry has issued a wanted notice for his arrest.
The court also sentenced four of Kim’s accomplices to prison terms ranging from two to four years.
Three of these accomplices were South Korean nationals, while another received a suspended sentence.
More than 100 additional defendants connected to the case await sentencing.
State media reported that gamblers recovered only 0.22% of the total $106 million wagered. – AFP
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