Bodog's Seeton traumatized after Vietnam arrest
Bodog.com Project coordinator and a regular feature on Gambling911.com, Fawn Seeton, is back in "production mode" following an arrest Friday in Vietnam on charges of espionage. While this might sound like something straight out of a James Bond flick, the charges are 100% real or, as Bodog founder Calvin Ayre points out, real stupid.
Seeton and a production crew have been filming a documentary on "Bear Bile Farming" though the shoot in question pertained to an upcoming Mixed Martial Arts special entitled "Bodog Fight". The actual arrests occurred in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The crew was trying to film a street scene which they believed was covered by the license the production team had. What they did not know was that in Vietnam, there are some buildings which are still covered by rather Draconian anti-espionage laws, complete with undercover street spies.
The areas in question are all clearly marked, however, the signs appear in Vietnamese (a language Seeton is not familiar with) and clearly identified as sensitive government buildings by the fact that they have not been painted since the war....apparently points that escaped Bodog's intrepid production team.
"While filming one scene,
all of a sudden out of
nowhere there were 20 plus
Vietnamese police
everywhere," a cameraman
told Gambling911.com. "It
was like being surrounded by
the seven dwarfs and Snow
White, Fawn Seeton, in the
middle."
While at the police station
and before they could get
the fines all paid, the
apply named Bodog Cameraman
Shaun Lawless was forced to
sign a Vietnamese document
that among other things
stated the following
(translated):
"It is a minute for an
Espionage breach relating
to social security and the
safety and stability of the
communist party and was
issued by the Police of Ward
7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh
City (the Minute).
Shaun Lawless is alleged to
have made a film at the
address, No. (Blank) Ho Chi
Minh City where there is a
sign stating “no making
films”.
The Police requests Shaun
and his team to come their
office at 8am on 5 September
2006 for settlement of the
breach.
Bodog entire production team
that was arrested in
Vietnam. Fawn Seeton
is pictured right
According to Article 27 of
Decree 150/2005/ND-CP dated
12 December 2005 of the
Government providing
for
the sanctioning of
serious violations in the
domain of security and
social order and safety and
the communist party, the act
of making a film where there
is a sign of “no making
films” will be penalized
from between VND 500,000,000
and VND 2,000,000,000 and
may lead to confiscation of
the relevant camera and/or
up to 10 years in jail.
Please note that the office
of the Police of Ward
(blank) District (blank) is
at (Blank) Street, Ho Chi
Minh City, Vietnam. (Some
details left blank to not
further infuriate any of the
Police officers involved)."
After 4 hours of strenuous
negotiations, outside forces
(read "fines" were paid)
were able to secure the
release of the team and get
back to shooting, though it
is still not clear if Shaun
Lawless will be allowed to
leave the country.
Apparently what had caused all the fuss was that the dumpy old building across from the nice renovated French Villas where the shoot was to take place, is the of the main office building for Southern Vietnam for the Communist Party of Vietnam...something called the Head office for Southern Vietnam.
"As much as things are opening up in this country, in some ways this is still a police state," said the cameraman.
Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre was apparently not among those arrested, though is rumored to be in Asia filming. He has been heard from infrequently since the arrest of a colleague, BetonSports now fired CEO David Carruthers, in July.
For Seeton, this will serve as her second arrest in so many months. The Bodog Compound in Costa Rica was raided in March for allegations ranging from prostitution to hosting an "illegal poker game". The case was quickly dropped after law enforcement agents determined they had no evidence to support such claims.
"Her arrest record is longer than most offshore bookmakers," chimed in one Bodog associate, who wished not to be named.
Seeton was said to be visibly shaken following the incident Saturday but appeared to be recovering.
----
Christopher Costigan, www.gambling911.com
Originally published September 2, 2006 4:02 pm EDT