The man photographed sexually abusing young children in
images posted on the Internet has been identified following a massive global response to
Interpol’s appeal and is now believed to be in Thailand.
As a result of information provided to
Interpol by five different sources from three continents, the suspected child abuser labelled
'Vico', was identified as a man teaching English at a school in South Korea.
Within three days of the
appeal, working with its National Central Bureaus around the world,
Interpol had also established the suspect's name, nationality, date of birth, passport number, and current and previous places of
work but has not yet released these details.
Intense investigative support from authorities in South Korea and the Kingdom of Thailand revealed that the man flew from Seoul to
Bangkok International Airport on Thursday, 11 October, with security cameras documenting his arrival at immigration at 15h26.
"Thailand is at the centre of an international manhunt, and authorities in the country, in co-operation with
Interpol and police around the world, are hunting him down," said Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.
"The response and contribution we have had from the public has been remarkable, as has the support from the media, which has enabled
officers in our specialised unit, our office in Bangkok and police in other member countries to make such remarkable progress in such a
short space of time."
Police services and prosecutors in the involved countries
are continuing to collect and analyse evidence in order to bring charges against
‘Vico’ as soon as possible.
More than 350 people worldwide contacted
Interpol in response to its appeal for assistance for Operation Vico when it became clear
to Interpol that
without the public’s help, the man pictured sexually abusing 12 different young boys
in Vietnam and Cambodia in a series of around 200
images could otherwise not be identified.
"This case clearly underlines the central role which could only be achieved by
Interpol with its network of 186 member countries, and also highlights the giant step forward in global communications among
Interpol members," added Secretary General Noble.
People
with any news at all on the whereabouts of this man should contact local
police or Interpol via the internet at: https://www.interpol.int/public/mail/mail3.asp?id=vico
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