A taxi driver in Hanoi has been arrested for reportedly stealing money and a credit card from a South Korean passenger while the victim was asleep due to the influence of alcohol.

Police in Hoan Kiem District confirmed on Monday they had apprehended Vu Van Quan, 42, who hails from northern Nam Dinh Province, on theft charges.

At around 4:00 am on May 29, Kim Kyung Hyun, a 44-year-old South Korean man, got in the cab driven by Quan after drinking alcohol on Luong Ngoc Quyen Street in Hoan Kiem District, preliminary information showed.

Kim was drunk and fell asleep during the journey.

After arriving at an apartment building in Cau Giay District, the South Korean passenger woke up and found that he had lost about VND4 million (US$172) in his wallet.

As he had no cash left with him, the foreigner asked Quan to come with him to his apartment, where he paid the fare to the driver and went to bed.

When Kim got up at 11:00 am the same day, he discovered that his credit card was missing and that someone had spent about VND40 million ($1,700) on the card at local convenience stores and filling stations.

After receiving the report from the victim, police launched an investigation and found that Quan and his friend – 43-year-old Nguyen Van Doc – had used Kim’s credit card.

At the police station, Quan admitted to stealing the cash and credit card from the South Korean passenger before using the card to buy various products, together with Doc.

Doc, who was arrested on charges of using stolen property, said that he used the credit card despite knowing that Quan had stolen it.

Police investigation revealed that Quan spent over VND16 million ($690) on the credit card, while Doc had used it to buy products worth more than VND25 million ($1,070).

Quan was previously convicted of robbery, while Doc was convicted of gambling, officers added.

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