Of them, many are business directors prosecuted for gambling and have been remanded in custody, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong.

They include Dinh Viet Anh, former director of Hoang Gia Ceramics Co., Tran Son Hai, or Hai “bake” who runs a road transport company in HCMC’s Binh Thanh District, and Chu Quan, director of Hoa Phat Co.

Hai “bake” admitted to betting with bookie Son “dau bang” a total of VND200 million (US$), the online edition VietnamNet reported.

Int’l betting ring

According to police, those involved in an international football betting ring with ties to Hong Kong had a network of bookies across HCMC and the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, fielding wagers as high as hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

When receiving bets beyond its solvency, the ring would transfer bets to network firms in Hong Kong on commission.

Upon raiding the ring before the World Cup final on July 9, police seized US$88,000 and VND106 million ($6,600) in cash, together with three cars, eight motorbikes and a computer.

Police identified 16 people of the ring, arrested 11 of them, and issued house arrest warrants to the five others.

Three key leaders of the ring include Le Cong Hai, known as Hai “ben”, Doan Van Tri, or Tri “tom”, and Nguyen Thanh Son, or Son “dau bang”.

Hai is a trading department manager of a security service company in HCMC.

Years ago, Hai was a close junior henchman of Mafioso Nguyen Tuan Hai, alias Hai Banh, who is currently in jail for murder.

Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong, VietnamNet- Translated by Thu Thuy