Singer Vu Ha was fined 150 million VND in a gambling case in Hanoi.

On the afternoon of November 12th, the Hanoi People's Court announced its verdict against 141 defendants in the case of organizing and participating in gambling at the King Club, located in the Pullman Hotel, Hanoi. Among them, singer Vu Ha was fined 150 million VND for the crime of "Gambling".

According to the indictment, singer Vu Ha participated in gambling once with $2,600 and lost $200. The court 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 for large sums of money involved.

• Bui Van HuynhHe was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and fined an additional 100 million VND. Defendant Huynh was identified as the person who gambled the largest amount of money, up to 16.3 million USD.
• Vu PhongHe received a sentence of 4 years and 6 months in prison, along with an additional fine of 50 million VND for gambling with over 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, with an additional fine of 50 million VND, on charges of gambling with 7.05 million USD.
• Ngo Ngoc Duc(Former Secretary of the Hoa Binh City Party Committee): Sentenced to 3 years in prison and fined an additional 50 million VND for gambling with 4.26 million USD.
• Singer Nguyen The VuSentenced to three years in prison, he is the fifth-highest gambler with over $4.3 million in winnings.

The group of defendants organized gambling.

Regarding the charge of "Organizing gambling," the court sentenced three South Korean managers of the King Club, including:

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

The two Vietnamese defendants are charged with the same crime.Phan Truong Giang(Branch manager of Viet Dang Company) received a 30-month prison sentence andNguyen Dinh Lam(Deputy General Director of Viet Hai Dang Company) received a 3-year suspended prison sentence.

Judgment of the Judicial Council

The verdict stated that the defendants' criminal acts were dangerous to society, violated public order, and were a cause of other crimes. These acts also negatively impacted morality and lifestyles, causing detrimental consequences for the community and undermining social safety.

The trial panel argued that bringing the defendants to trial was necessary for rehabilitation, education, and crime prevention. According to the verdict, the group of defendants who organized the gambling were accomplices assisting Kim In Sung (a South Korean national currently at large). Meanwhile, the 136 defendants convicted of "Gambling" all acted independently.

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