Southern Vietnamese authorities are investigating a man in Ho Chi Minh City who attempted to dodge a traffic fine by presenting police officers with a fake ‘counter-intelligence officer’ ID.

Huynh Ngoc Vu was pulled over for speeding on National Route 51 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on May 27 afternoon.

The 45-year-old presented officers at the scene with a plastic ‘urgent mission’ card bearing his photo, full name, and “identity” as an officer in a counter-espionage agency under the Ministry of Public Security.

The document also said he had the right to travel at any time of the day on roads that forbid certain types of vehicles.

“Why wouldn’t you let me go right now?” Vu shouted while holding the warrant card.

The officers suspected it was counterfeit and brought him to a police station where he admitted the card is phony and he was attempting, rather poorly, to impersonate a counter-espionage agent.

The man said he bought the card from an acquaintance five years ago for VND1 million (US$44) in order to take business trips without hassle in different areas of Vietnam.  

He claimed travel was his sole motive for using the card and that he had never used it for any other fraudulent purposes.

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