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Vietnam hauls in 15 for questioning on mass casino raid |
Vietnamese police summoned 15 people Tuesday for questioning
pertaining to casinos busted last month in Ho Chi Minh City and
Vung Tau for allowing illegal gambling activities.
The police said these people would be interrogated concerning
illegal gambling in four Ho Chi Minh City hotels – the Duxton
Saigon, Food Center of Saigon, the Legend, and the Equatorial
– as well as Vung Tau’s DIC Star hotel.
Of the 15 summoned, 10 are reportedly major punters who have
gambled up to hundred thousands of dollars each.
Vietnamese law prohibits domestic nationals from gambling but
allows hotels rated with four-stars or above to run casinos
exclusively for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese.
In late May, police launched a mass offensive, inspired by
complaints lodged a few months ago that the five aforesaid casinos
allowed Vietnamese to gamble, and arrested seven people.
Malaysian Lim Leang Sing, 60, who was among the arrested, has
sought bail approval from the Vietnamese Supreme Prosecution Office
and the Ministry of Public Security on the grounds of frail health.
Lim was indicted for “organizing illegal gambling” in
three hotels including the Equatorial, Food Center, and Duxton.
In related news, Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper said Tuesday that
investigators were poring over the existence of a gangster ring
that had abetted the Food Center of Saigon, which has only been
granted the three-star standard, to obtain the operating license to
organize the gambling services for foreigners.
The ring of thugs allegedly received kickbacks up to US$1 million
from other hotel owners to help them obtain operating licenses for
cyber game services.
The newspaper reported that a former henchman of executed and
notorious mafia boss Nam Cam could be behind the ring.
Source:
Thanh Nien News
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