The 49-year-old, who has been the Ministry’s Chief Inspector since April 2015, is currently being investigated for taking advantage of his authority.

Police have already carried out searches at his home and place of work in Hanoi.

Police based in the northern Phu Tho Province claimed an inspection team from the Information Ministry found signs of the online gambling organisation in October 2016.

However, Tuan failed to report the findings and suggested to the then minister to call off the investigation.

As a result, Tuan’s actions allegedly allowed the illegal online operation to continue.

Investigations continued and found Phan Van Vink, former Director of the General Police Department, and Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former Director of the Ministry’s Department for High-Tech Crime Prevention, had helped set up the gambling ring.

The gambling ring generated a total income of over VND9.8 trillion ($426m) before being found.

Vinh was sentenced to nine years in prison, while Hoa received 10. Both received fines of VND100m.

A further 90 defendants were charged with organising gambling, money laundering and illegal trading of invoices.