Hanoi, Oct. 21 -- The Hanoi People's Court is scheduled to open on October 26 the first-instance trial of 188 defendants in a case involving Pho Duc Nam, alias Mr Pips, and his accomplices, who are charged with "swindling to appropriate property", "money laundering", "harbouring or trading in property acquired through crime" and "tax evasion". The alleged offences occurred in Hanoi and several other provinces and cities nationwide. Given the large number of participants in the proceedings, including 188 defendants, more than 200 defence lawyers and hundreds of related parties and witnesses, the court has decided to hold the trial in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online proceedings. The main hearing venue will be the court's lar...