All charges against Paul Phua dropped

U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon has barred the use of evidence that FBI agents have gathered during an illegal raid on the hotel suites where Paul "MalACEsia" Phua and several other businessmen were staying last summer. Since the FBI's case was mostly based on this evidence, all charges against Phua have been dropped.

We have previously talked about the charges brought against Paul "MalACEsia" Phua, he was arrested last July at the Caesars Palace hotel in  Las Vegas. According to the charges, Phua and other Malaysian and Chinese businessmen were running an illegal sports betting ring for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The FBI has also claimed that Phua is a high-ranking member of the 14K Triad in Hong Kong, which is one of the biggest crime organizations in the world, focusing on illegal gambling and prostitution.

In October more information about the case was released. Phua's lawyers claimed that the FBI has used unlawful procedures to get into the hotel suites. The FBI asked Caesars Palace staff to shut down the internet in the suite so Phua would give permission for the FBI agents disguised as technical staff to enter the suite.

Judge Peggy Leen has ruled in February that the FBI has used deceptive tactics to get the arrest warrant and has also stated that the statements from the agents were "false and misleading."

After the prosecution appealed, the case was brought before Judge Andrew Gordon, who agreed with Leen and has barred the prosecution from using the evidence gathered in Caesars Palace. Since the case was almost completely based on this evidence, all charges were dropped and Phua was released a free man.

A total of eight Malaysian and Chinese businessmen were arrested in the case, including Paul Phua's 22 year-old son, Darren.

Six of the accused have plead guilty, receiving a suspended sentece of 5 years in prison and barred from entering U.S. territory, and in one case the charges were also dropped.

Phua could now join the battles of the WSOP, but according to his lawyers, he is leaving the United States to return to his family.