Tech bosses of multi-million-dollar gambling ring arrested

March 13, 2018 | 21:51

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Two technology officers from VTC Online and CNC were arrested for running a multi-million-dollar gambling line under the wings of former C50 director general.

tech bosses of multi million dollar gambling ring arrested

Phan Sao Nam (left), founder and former chairman of VTC Online and Nguyen Thanh Hoa (right), former chief of the Ministry of Public Security's High-Technology Department (C50)

The investigation agency has arrested two technology officers for running a multi-million-dollar gambling ring that involved Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former director general of the Ministry of Public Security's High-Technology Department (C50), who has just been arrested a few days ago.

The arrested duo include Phan Sao Nam, founder and former chairman of VTC Online, and Nguyen Van Duong, chairman of high-tech security development company CNC, the masterminds behind a huge gambling ring.

This operation was based in Phu Tho province and nearly 70 people have been arrested for involvement since August 2017. The local police said that Nam and Duong had been operating tech businesses and importing technical devices before they switched to online gambling. They set up a system where players can bet money via an online game using cards issued by CNC.

According to Article 249 of the Penal Code, organising gambling or running gambling dens is punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment.

The investigation found that there are around eight million frequent users on this trans-national gambling site. The police has seized more than VND1 trillion ($44 million) so far and suspect that a further $3.6 million has been transferred overseas.

Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former chief of the cyber-crime unit, had failed to shut down the syndicate after discovering it, and instead offered his protection. Hoa was director general of the C50 from 2009, after long years of working in the economic crime unit. He was suspended in late 2017 for his involvement in the crime ring.

According to Article 249 of the Penal Code, organising gambling or running gambling dens is punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment.

By Minh Vu

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