Procedural errors may kill FBI gambling case involving Asian kingpin Paul Phua
Paul Phua's lawyers seek to suppress statements over links with an online betting provider on grounds accused were not read their rights
Phua - called by US federal agents a high-ranking member of Hong Kong's 14K triad society - and his son Darren Phua Wai-kit face two charges of operating an illegal gambling ring in Nevada, after they were arrested for allegedly handling bets on Asian gambling websites during the soccer World Cup earlier this year.
Prosecutors now have to prove that the two Malaysian citizens not only used such betting platforms during their stay in Las Vegas, but also operated them from there.
Phua "absolutely maintains he is innocent of the gambling charges in the United States", lawyers for the 50 year-old said in an email. They also called the triad allegations unfounded.
In a move to thwart the charges, the lawyers are now trying to suppress statements Phua and his son gave in which both said Paul Phua held a stake in IBC Bet, an online betting provider in the Philippines that industry insiders consider to be one of the largest in the world.
