Socialist Republic of Vietnam

A Vietnamese national suspected of embezzling VND90 billion has been arrested in the US and will be extradited to Vietnam, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security stated Mar. 2.
US Interpol informed Vietnam of the arrest of Nguyen Khac Son, 48 and former director of the HCMC branch of Hanoi-based Printing Import-Export Company (Prinmatexim) in late February.

American police forces captured Son on an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol Vietnam after Son left Vietnam in June 2004.

Since he began his posting in 1995, Son was found to have embezzled VND60 billion from his company and appropriated VND30 billion from other offices and companies.

According to investigators, he asked his staff to make a payment slip of VND6.5 billion for Tan Mai Paper Co. but in reality he pocketed the sum. He was also found to have sold his company’s assets used as mortgage for bank loans.

He also filed false accounts to the head office and worked directly with other companies, many of them bankrupt and operating illegally, reported Vietnam News Agency.

During eight months on the run abroad, Son and his wife stayed in Asian countries before going to the US, said Interpol.

Extradition date undecided

US Interpol has also asked Vietnam to provide information about charges of his embezzlement in order to complete formalities to extradite him to Vietnam.

The General Police Department has reported the requirement to the Ministry of Public Security, Supreme People’s Procuracy and Supreme People’s Court to ask for opinions.

Therefore, Interpol Vietnam has yet to fix the extradition date.

“Vietnam has highly appreciated the cooperation of Interpol and American police forces in arresting Nguyen Khac Son,” Major General Tran Van Thao, head of the General Police Department, told Thanh Nien reporter yesterday Mar. 2.

According to Mr. Thao, Interpol forces in Vietnam and the US have worked closely in recent times although the two countries have yet to sign a criminal extradition treaty.

Reported by Viet Chien - Translated by T.H.
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 02 March, 2005, 21:38:24 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News