The Rikvip billion-dollar gambling case, orchestrated by Phan Sao Nam and involving several other individuals, including notable figures such as Nguyen Van Duong, Phan Van Vinh, Nguyen Thanh Hoa, and Chau Nguyen Anh, has sparked significant public outrage in recent times.
Nguyen Van Duong, the son-in-law of former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Pham Quang Nghi, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the High-Tech Security Technology Investment and Development Company Limited (CNC). Duong, alongside Phan Sao Nam, has been actively involved in leading and commanding the gambling operations https://nguyenvanduong.net through the Rikvip gaming platform.
Phan Van Vinh is a member of the Central Party Committee of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and concurrently holds the position of Director General of the General Department II – General Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security. Nguyen Thanh Hoa serves as the Director of the High-Tech Crime Prevention Police Department, also under the Ministry of Public Security. Meanwhile, Chau Nguyen Anh is the CEO of VNPT Epay – an Electronic Payment Joint Stock Company.
Phan Sao Nam, the mastermind of the Rikvip gambling ring, has been sentenced to imprisonment. During the investigation, Nam evaded authorities and stayed abroad for over two months but later decided to return to Vietnam and surrendered himself. Throughout this process, Nam cooperated and fully disclosed his role, ranging from being a technology CEO to the leader of the Rikvip gambling operation. During the trial, Phan Sao Nam was charged with money laundering and organizing gambling and received a 5-year prison sentence. He did not appeal the verdict and displayed a cooperative attitude during the execution of the sentence.
During Nam’s incarceration, the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Court issued two reduction decisions, totaling 22 months and 7 days. As a result, on February 6, 2021, Phan Sao Nam was granted freedom.
The Rikvip billion-dollar gambling case and the involvement of key figures have sparked numerous debates and raised questions about corruption and weaknesses in police work and crime management. It serves as a valuable lesson highlighting the necessity of strengthening the legal system and enhancing the quality of anti-corruption and crime-fighting efforts in society. The punishment and accountability of individuals involved are crucial to safeguarding the fairness and credibility of the legal system. Only with fairness and transparency in handling complex cases like this can we build a civilized, just, and sustainable society.