U.S. Diplomat Flees S. Korean Fraud Probe

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea, March 15, 2010
U.S. Diplomat Flees S. Korean Fraud Probe
American Dept. of Homeland Security Official Accused of Taking Nearly $200,000 From Local Woman

(AP) An American diplomat based in South Korea fled to the Philippines after facing charges that he swindled a local woman out of nearly $200,000, police in the southern city of Busan said Monday.

The suspect, a 50-year-old official with the Department of Homeland Security, is accused of taking 220 million won ($194,000) from a widow he had known since 2007. He allegedly told her the money would go toward building a school in the Philippines and promised her a high return on the investment, Busan Haeundae police said.

An investigation later found he had no business plan and gambled her money away, officer Nam Geun-chan said.

The suspect confessed during questioning in November but secretly fled the country on March 3, two days before U.S. authorities were to strip him of diplomatic immunity, Nam said.

The man, who was not identified, had worked in customs in Busan, about 280 miles southeast of Seoul, screening U.S.-bound export items, Nam said. He had been granted diplomatic immunity in South Korea because he was considered a diplomat, Nam said.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/15/world/main6300670.shtml

[MsLeopard]

1. Let me guess

He's a hold over Bush appointee.

[glinda]

3. hehe

[pundaint]

2. Official criminality is becoming redundant in America. He confessed in November, but was still free

to flee in March? Has this Administration read in the Constitution the part about the Executive Branch enforces the law? The problem is we've gone too far without leadership from the top making it clear that government works for the People. The whole organization of Government has lost it's focus. When that understanding is restored then people in government will see criminals in their midst as detrimental to the mission, rather than co-conspiritors.