Singer Vu Ha fined 150 million VND in gambling case in Hanoi

On the afternoon of November 12, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced 141 defendants in the case of organizing gambling and gambling that occurred at King Club, Pullman Hotel, Hanoi. In particular, singer Vu Ha was sentenced to a fine of 150 million VND for "Gambling".

According to the indictment, singer Vu Ha gambled once with $2,600 and lost $200. The jury sentenced the defendant to a fine of 100 million VND, along with an additional penalty of 50 million VND.

Sentences for key defendants

Among the 136 people prosecuted for "Gambling", many defendants received prison sentences with large amounts of money involved.

• Bui Van Huynh: Sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and an additional fine of 100 million VND. Defendant Huynh was identified as the person who gambled with the largest amount of money, up to 16.3 million USD.
• Vu Phong: Received a sentence of 4 years and 6 months in prison, an additional fine of 50 million VND with gambling money of more than 10.7 million USD.
• Ho Dai Dung(former vice chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Tho province): Sentenced in absentia to 3 years and 6 months in prison, fined an additional 50 million VND for the charge of gambling 7.05 million USD.
• Ngo Ngoc Duc(former Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Binh City): Sentenced to 3 years in prison, fined an additional 50 million VND for gambling money of 4.26 million USD.
• Singer Nguyen The Vu: Sentenced to 3 years in prison, is the fifth biggest gambler with more than 4.3 million USD.

The group of defendants organized gambling.

For the crime group "Organizing gambling", the court sentenced 3 managers of King Club with Korean nationality, including:

• Cho Choo Keun: 4 years in prison.
• Shim Hawn Hee: 2 years in prison.
• Choi Jin Bok: 3 years and 6 months in prison.

Two Vietnamese defendants with the same crime arePhan Truong Giang(director of Viet Dang Company branch) received 30 months in prison andNguyen Dinh Lam(Deputy General Director of Viet Hai Dang Company) received a 3-year suspended sentence.

Jury's opinion

The verdict stated that the defendants’ criminal acts were dangerous to society, violated public order and were the cause of other crimes. This act also had a negative impact on morality and lifestyle and caused negative consequences for the community, causing social insecurity.

The jury considered that bringing the defendants to trial was necessary for reform, education and to meet the requirements of crime prevention. According to the verdict, the group of defendants who organized gambling were accomplices of Kim In Sung (Korean nationality, currently on the run). Meanwhile, the 136 defendants who committed the crime of "Gambling" all committed the act independently.

Of the remaining defendants, more than 60 received suspended sentences and more than 40 were only sentenced to fines.