US authorities indicted 141 individuals for their involvement in a US$107 million gambling operation based in Hà Nội.
In a significant development, a high-profile illegal gambling operation at King Club, located within Hanoi's Pullman Hotel, has been dismantled by authorities. The operation, which ran for five months, saw 141 individuals, including several high-ranking Vietnamese officials and foreign nationals, prosecuted for their involvement.
At the heart of the operation was Kim In Sung, a foreign national suspected to be South Korean, who allegedly acted as the ringleader. Prosecutors claim that Kim directed the daily operations of the gambling ring, pocketing an estimated $9.2 million in profits from player losses.
Three South Korean managers and two Vietnamese executives were also accused of helping to run the scheme alongside Kim In Sung. Their roles are believed to have included operational support and possibly overseeing gaming activities.
Among the notable high-rolling gamblers were Ho Dai Dung, a former Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee, and Ngo Ngoc Duc, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Binh City. Both men are alleged to have been regular players at King Club, wagering millions of US dollars over several months.
Ho Dai Dung was charged with gambling on 95 separate occasions, with his largest single bet exceeding $331,000 and his smallest being nearly $5,000. He reportedly lost over $759,000. Ngo Ngoc Duc, using the alias 'Mr Lucky one', allegedly gambled 74 times on slot machines, roulette, and baccarat, with total wagers surpassing $4.2 million and losses of around $284,000.
During the raid, nearly US$1.6 million in cash and various foreign currencies were seized on-site. Prosecutors estimate the total money amount involved in the case at over $106 million.
The case has shed light on the illegal gambling activities that have been taking place within King Club, which was operated by HS Development Company under a business contract. In January 2020, Kim In Sung reportedly received internal approval to open the club's doors to Vietnamese citizens.
The total number of prosecuted individuals in the illegal gambling case at King Club now stands at 146, with 136 of the defendants being Vietnamese citizens who knowingly violated the law by betting on electronic machines with King Club staff. The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat illegal gambling activities in Vietnam.
- The dismantled gambling operation at King Club, a business entity operated by HS Development Company, was found to have violated the law by including AI-controlled gaming machines, making it a remarkable instance of crime and justice intertwined with general news and business.
- In a extension of the King Club's illegal activities, the case unveiled involvement of various individuals from different spheres, such as lawmakers like Ho Dai Dung and Ngo Ngoc Duc, who have been implicated in the crime-and-justice context, given their constant gambling escapades at the casino-and-gambling venue.
- Amidst these revelations, it has become evident that the former manager Kim In Sung, a South Korean suspect, emerged as a key AI-driven player in this illegal business, pocketing millions in ill-gotten profits, thereby shedding light on the illicit side of the gaming industry and the law's continuous vigilance in addressing such casino-and-gambling-related crimes.
