By Hopefully they catch this scumbag who worked at the US consulate in Busan:
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 (450 kilometers) 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.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul confirmed Monday that the suspect left the country without informing officials. [SF Gate]
8:54 pm on March 15th, 2010 1
This is why they need to do away with diplomatic immunity.He is a disgrace to the foreign service corp.
9:59 pm on March 15th, 2010 2
Mmm, too young to remember this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis
3:28 am on March 16th, 2010 3
Maybe I read the article wrong or I don't know what "U.S. authorities were to strip him of diplomatic immunity" actually means. As I understand, South Korea offers the diplomatic immunity as the USA offers the same to South Korea's diplomats. The host country can always revoke their diplomatic immunity in what is called persona-non-grata. You can learn more about diplomatic immunity, official websites are easily found if you want to learn.
9:00 pm on March 16th, 2010 4
I'm curious to know if this guy is a Korean-American.
10:57 pm on March 16th, 2010 5
His name is Dario Tomas. He is a 51 year-old Filipino-American from Oceanside, California.
11:37 pm on March 16th, 2010 6
That Explains why he would flee to the Philippines.
3:35 am on March 17th, 2010 7
I seem to recall declaring a diplomat persona non-grata means they have to leave the country my pronto. The nation he works for has to do something else to actually put them under the host nation's jurisdiction. Don't know what that is, but it must be a part of the process. If not, all those KGB guys from the Soviet Embassy and consulates in the US would have gone to jail!
7:39 am on March 17th, 2010 8
"promised her a high return on the investment". 200k and a school in the PI? Even an idiot would never think a profit could be made from a school in the PI. This guy should change his name to P.T. Barnum.
8:26 am on March 17th, 2010 9
Here is a suggestion. Just as Customs and Immigrations officers at airports have lists they can check for people who should not be allowed to enter a country, they should also have lists they can review at departure checkout for people they should not allow to leave the country.
When a person commits a crime in a country, there should be a process to put them on a travel hold, and have their names and passport numbers placed on that list.
Or, at the very least, his bosses at the State Department should be given the authority to confiscate his passport.
He did confess to the crime way back in November.
10:01 am on March 17th, 2010 10
They do have that type of system in place. I've seen people effected by it. Looks like someone dropped the ball or his status trumped it.
2:06 pm on March 17th, 2010 11
Lemmy,
Usually, it is pig and tilapia farm investments that separate the foreigners from their pesos.
Actually, I have an idea for a business in the Philippines. I welcome investors.
This is not a joke.
Here is my business plan.
There are a lot of families in the Western world who wish to adopt a baby from the Philippines. A lighter-skinned and more Western-featured baby is frequently preferable.
I wish to construct a building, much like a hotel, with private rooms, common areas, food preparation ability and medical facilities.
Young women will be selected by their beauty, intelligence and overall attractiveness. They will conceive a perfect baby after being repeatedly mated with someone of blinding intelligence and stunning physical perfection… such as me.
Nine months later, after living in health and comfort and with a small monthly stipend, their baby will be adopted to the new family and the girl can apply to re-enroll.
The costs are covered by the adopting family. The profit is split among the investors.
I think this could make money.
I think the REAL money is in selling franchises, though.
3:47 am on March 22nd, 2010 12
do you think he was one of nappy,s boys?