The Hanoi capital of Vietnam has recently played host to a casino gambling refresher course taking place in one of its beautiful botanical gardens on December 13th, 2005. These participants are Vietnamese policemen. The Investigation Agency under Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has come to a final decision to prosecute the case, involving 22 staff of police forces. Among the detainees is Bui Quang Hung, a driver for the Hanoi Traffic Police Bureau. His lottery and soccer-betting casino ring is self-run and against the law.
After authorities searched Hung's house, they found and detained two motorbikes, a car, a computer, a safe, nearly 500 million Vietnamese dong ($31,400 USD) and other casino gambling related documents. Not only were these casino gambling participants caught red-handed, but they were all part of the law enforcement group that is supposed to help put a stop to illegal gambling.
Casinos designated for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese are legal in the country. Other forms of gambling, and soccer betting in particular, are illegal in Vietnam. During major national soccer tournaments, bookmakers and local bettors are detained. It seems that in Vietnam, casino gambling will have to be done behind closed doors. This time, the police hopefully will not be the ones caught red-handed. |
