Foreign murder suspect arrested in Việt Nam

The victim's disfigured fingers raised suspicions that the killers had tried to conceal the victim's identity. DNA testing with relatives ultimately confirmed the victim's identity.

Vietnamese police escort Kim Hyeong Gwon to the airport for his return to Republic of Korea to face justice. — Photo nld.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — A South Korean national wanted for murder in Thailand has been arrested in Việt Nam.

Kim Hyeong Gwon, 39, is accused of disposing of the victim's body in a plastic container and dumping it into a reservoir.

Kim was apprehended by Vietnamese police in Đống Đa District, Hà Nội City, on September 12 under an international arrest warrant. After being held for 11 days, he was handed over to South Korean authorities.

He admitted to fleeing Thailand after committing the crime, traveling through Laos, and illegally entering Việt Nam.

The victim, Roh Eui Jong, a 34-year-old South Korean national, went missing when traveling in Thailand in April. His mother received a ransom demand of 3 million baht (US$91,600), prompting a police investigation.

The body of the victim was later found in a concrete-filled container in Map Prachan Reservoir in Bang Lamung District, Thailand.

The victim's disfigured fingers raised suspicions that the killers had tried to conceal the victim's identity. DNA testing with relatives ultimately confirmed the victim's identity.

Kim is the third suspect in the case. The first suspect, Lee Roun, was captured on May 12 in Jeongeup City, Republic of Korea.

The second suspect, Lee Young Jin, managed to escape to Cambodia but was eventually apprehended in a joint operation and returned to the Republic of Korea in July. — VNS