Vietnamese prosecutors have recommended further investigation into how money in the Mr Pips fraud case moved through several payment intermediaries.
Prosecutors outlined the recommendation at the trial in Hanoi this week, as covered by Znews.
On 4 November, a representative of the Hanoi People’s Procuracy told the court that investigators could not fully examine some matters within the time limits.
Instead, they will take them up in a second phase.
This phase will look at the activities of payment intermediaries 9Pay, BigPay, ApotaPay, CPay and HTP.
It will also cover more than 1,400 individuals within the fraud network, to determine their roles and responsibilities.
Authorities have not charged any of the five payment firms in the case.
Inside the US$61 Million Scheme
The 188 defendants face fraud and money laundering charges over a scheme that prosecutors say took nearly VND 1.6 trillion (about US$61 million) from investors through fake stock and forex trading platforms.
Prosecutors name Phó Đức Nam, a TikToker known as Mr Pips, as one of the ringleaders, alongside Lê Khắc Ngọ, known as Mr Hunter.
Prosecutors told the court the group pre-programmed the platforms, which never placed real trades on global markets.
In closing arguments carried by CafeF, they recommended life sentences for both men.
Questions Over the Payment Trail
During questioning on 31 October, Nam testified that he mainly used payment gateways Ngân Lượng and 9Pay, along with some other providers, to collect investors’ money.
He noted that the only payment company representative in court was Nguyễn Hòa Bình, known as Shark Bình, whose company operates Ngân Lượng.
Prosecutors accuse him of helping launder VND 319 billion (about US$12 million) for the network and have recommended a sentence of nine to ten years.
Nam’s lawyer, Lê Thị Hồng Vân, went further.
She told the court that investigators may have missed offences and asked it to prosecute representatives of 9Pay and ApotaPay, VnExpress wrote in its trial coverage.
Legal newspaper Công Lý reported a more conditional request, with the lawyer asking the court to summon representatives of the payment companies and raising the possibility of prosecution if violations were found.
Công Lý also reported that the other payment companies had been summoned but did not attend, and submitted requests for the trial to proceed in their absence.
9Pay’s Statement
In a letter to Fintech News Network, 9Pay said it froze and temporarily suspended all related merchant accounts as soon as its risk control system detected unusual transactions, to stop suspected fund flows.
The company said it had proactively reported the matter and has been working closely with investigators and regulators, providing information and data to help verify and clarify the case.
9Pay added that it prioritises the security of its payment system and the protection of its customers’ legitimate assets and interests, and that it remains committed to strictly complying with the law and regulators’ instructions.
Prosecutors Push for Stricter Checks
The procuracy also recommended that the State Bank of Vietnam step up checks on how banks and licensed payment intermediaries comply with anti-money laundering rules.
It also urged the central bank to tighten electronic customer verification (eKYC) for online account opening.
Prosecutors said this would help authorities detect and block suspicious accounts promptly.
These include accounts that receive money from many sources, transact at high frequency or move funds rapidly through multiple accounts.
This article was updated on 06 November 2026 to include 9Pay’s response and to clarify the procuracy’s recommendation and the lawyer’s request.
Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Vietnam based on an image by Kindel Media via Pexels.
