VietNamNet Bridge – The People's Court in HCM City on Tuesday handed down prison sentences ranging from nine months to eight years to 56 people involved in illegal online gambling on the website188bet.com.

Defendants in court. Some 66 indictees were accused of illegal gambling. — Photo laodong.com.vn

Eight other people were fined from VND30-50 million (more than US$1,300-2,200) for gambling.

Vuong Chan Thanh, who led the ring of illegal online gambling, received a prison sentence of eight years.

Between October 2011 and October 2013, Thanh, director of Vien Tin International Telecommunication Ltd Co in HCM City's District 11, asked his relatives and employees to open 55 bank accounts to receive and transfer earnings from illegal gambling operations via 188bet.com, according to the jury.

The ring transferred more than US$30 million in total.

VNS