S.Korea seeks Interpol’s help to hunt bank heist suspect in Vietnam
Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 15:54 GMT+7
Police in South Korea are coordinating with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to search for an armed man who allegedly robbed a local credit union in Daejeon City and escaped to Da Nang City in central Vietnam with over US$29,000.
The suspect committed the robbery at a credit union on August 18 and fled to Da Nang two days later, Daejeon Police Agency said, adding they have sought help from Interpol to apprehend the man, news agency Yonhap reported on Tuesday.
Wearing a black helmet and a mountain climbing jacket, the man entered the bank at noon, discharging a fire extinguisher and threatening the staff with a pre-prepared weapon.
After stealing 39 million won in cash (US$29,157), the suspect escaped on a stolen motorcycle, local police said.
It took the man only six minutes to complete the bold robbery, according to Seoul Broadcasting System.
After committing the crime, the suspect constantly moved along those streets without security cameras to hide from police officers.
South Korea’s Hankyoreh newspaper reported that the man stole two motorbikes in Daejeon’s Seo and Yuseong Districts the day before committing the bank heist.
Police found both cars locally on August 20.
BNN Breaking, an international news network, cited police officers as saying they have identified the suspect through CCTV footage and witness testimonies.
The suspect departed for Vietnam on a flight from Incheon International Airport on Sunday using a fake passport and a forged COVID-19 test certificate, police confirmed.
Investigators believe the suspect has connections in Vietnam and may have set up the robbery plan in advance, so they are investigating whether the man had received any assistance from any accomplices, according to BNN Breaking.
Da Nang, where the suspect was believed to have escaped to, has in recent years become a favorite destination on the central Vietnamese coast for many South Koreans, including stars and idols.
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