High-roller’s death referred to unsolved homicide squad

DURING what was to be his last meal, gambling high-roller Peter Hoang was busily texting someone on two phones — including his encrypted BlackBerry. Later that night the man who had gambled in excess of $90 million was gunned down in the street.

High-roller Peter Hoang on the night he was shot dead.

DURING what was to be his last meal, gambling high-roller and suspected money launderer Peter Hoang was busily texting someone on two phones — including his encrypted BlackBerry.

Witnesses have told police there was nothing to indicate what would happen to Mr Hoang after he left a Surry Hills Thai restaurant about 11.15pm on September 6, 2014.

Peter Hoang had gambled in excess of $90 million.

Police believe Peter Hoang was lured to his death.

“He seemed a little distracted but there was no indication as to what would happen that night,” the NSW Coroner’s Court heard today.

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After leaving Surry Hills, Mr Hoang drove a black Nissan sports car and parked outside the entrance to McDonalds at Croydon Park in Sydney’s inner west.

He waited in the car for 18 minutes before driving to nearby Dunmore Street.

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Shortly after getting out of his car, a man who got out of a silver or white hatchback ran towards him and shot him five times — including the head, neck and left arm.

Peter Hoang was shot dead after getting out of his car.

A pub goer who thought Mr Hoang was passed out drunk on the footpath, alerted security guards at a nearby bar who found he had no pulse.

Today, after an extensive four-year investigation, Coroner Les Mabbutt recommended the matter to the NSW Police’s unsolved homicide unit.

His recommendation came following a short inquest which revealed Mr Hoang was most likely lured to his death by someone who he had been communicating with on his encrypted BlackBerry.

“Police believe Mr Hoang was lured to Croydon Park McDonalds by a criminal associate by a message on his BlackBerry which was later wiped — these unknown persons lay in wait and murdered Mr Hoang,” counsel assisting the coroner Peter Bain said.

Peter Hoang was shot five times after getting out of his black Nissan sports car.

The officer in charge of the investigation — homicide Detective Sergeant Peter Rudens — also told the court police believed Mr Hoang was killed by more than one person.

The court heard Mr Hoang gambled in excess of $90 million in the six years before his death- mostly at Sydney’s The Star, the Gold Coast’s Jupiters casino and the Crown casino in Melbourne.

At the time of his death he had accumulated large gambling debts and was also preparing to face a trial in Melbourne after he was found with $1.5 million suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Peter Hoang: After an extensive four-year investigation, Coroner Les Mabbutt recommended his death to the NSW Police’s unsolved homicide unit.

Mr Hoang was born in a small Vietnamese farming community but developed a gambling addiction and left “seeking a glamorous lifestyle rather that the life of farmer”.

The 38-year-old arrived in Australia in 1997 on a false passport and made a big name for himself in the Vietnamese community, making huge donations to a number of Buddhist temples and charities.

Mr Hoang also was a sponsor and promoter of shows and “was interested in socialising with female artists he brought to Australia,” Mr Bain said.

“He never married and lived a secretive life,” he said.

Coroner Les Mabbutt referred the case to the unsolved homicide unit after police told the inquest they had exhausted all lines of inquiry.