Kim Kyung Sic at a police station in HCMC, August 17, 2023. Photo courtesy of the police

A South Korean man wanted for embezzlement has been caught hiding in a HCMC apartment.

Kim Kyung Sic, 50, was arrested by police of District 7 on Thursday and handed over to the Ministry of Public Security, who are awaiting further procedures from South Korean police.

During a check for foreigners living in District 7, police found Kim living in an apartment of Era Town of Phu My Ward. He could not show his personal papers and had not been registered for a temporary stay.

Police then cooperated with the immigration department of HCMC police to verify the man’s identity, finding that Kim was wanted per a warrant issued by South Korean authorities in November 2019.

Kim, a business owner, is accused of embezzling money from several people, stealing from them and fleeing. After entering Vietnam, he hid in several different places before being found in District 7.

There are around 100,000 foreigners living in HCMC’s 80,000 accommodation facilities, including hotels, apartments and houses.

As part of crime prevention efforts, HCMC police are currently checking accommodation that has not reported foreigners staying.

Since 2022, HCMC police have found over 5,300 such violations, mostly in secluded apartments and neighborhoods.