Vietnam bartender arrested over tourist deaths linked to tainted alcohol

A bartender was arrested successful Vietnam Friday for allegedly making a deadly homemade limoncello that led to the decease of a British woman and her fiancé successful December.

According to local reports, the provincial constabulary bureau pressed charges against the 46-year-old bartender, identified arsenic Le Tan Gia, for violating nutrient information regulations.

Officers said that Gia had used 70 per cent aesculapian alcohol, mixing it with water, lemonade and sweetener to marque the limoncello that helium sold the mates connected Dec. 24, constabulary said successful a statement. Police besides noted that the intoxicant utilized was disinfectant only, and not to beryllium utilized successful nutrient processing.

“After taking the drinks, the 2 suffered superior methanol poisoning, starring to their death,” the connection said.

Local constabulary added that the lawsuit is presently being investigated and handled by the constabulary force.

On Dec. 26, Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Arno Quinto Els, 36, were recovered dormant successful abstracted rooms astatine the Hoi An Silverbell Villa successful Hội An, according to Vietnam News.

The Vietnamese constabulary had confirmed that Otteson and Els died from methanol poisoning from contaminated intoxicant after consuming tainted “homemade” limoncello.

Methanol is a clear, colourless alcohol utilized successful each kinds of mundane products similar concern cleaners, solvents, paint, cosmetics and anti-freeze. Methanol is toxic and deadly erstwhile consumed.

The mates allegedly ordered 2 bottles of limoncello from a edifice connected Christmas Eve and woke up with “the worst hangover ever” connected Christmas Day and tried to “sleep it off.”

Otteson reportedly contacted her parents via WhatsApp connected Christmas Day to archer them astir her hangover and that she was seeing “black spots” successful her vision.

Vietnam News said that authorities collected respective bare liquor bottles from the scene. It was besides reported that the archetypal findings “showed nary signs of scratches oregon outer unit connected the bodies.”

Trending Now

“The Vietnamese constabulary person present confirmed that the origin of decease was methanol poisoning, arsenic verified by the autopsy results,” Otteson’s parents said successful a statement.

“Both Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travellers. They recovered their cleanable location and were incredibly blessed with their beingness successful Vietnam, readying for the future,” their connection continued. “They were a loving mates with their beingness up of them. The tributes we person had from astir the satellite are unbelievable. Our purpose is to bring the radical who supplied the intoxicant and killed Greta and Arno to justice.”

On Nov. 20, 2024, Canada issued a question advisory after six tourists, mostly aged 19 to 20, died from suspected methanol poisoning successful a fashionable backpacker municipality successful bluish Laos earlier that month.

“Several foreigners successful Vang Vieng person been victims of suspected methanol-adulterated intoxicant poisoning,” the informing read. “Be vigilant if you take to portion alcohol. Avoid accepting escaped oregon highly low-priced drinks. Only bargain intoxicant successful sealed bottles and cans from reputable shops. Seek aesculapian assistance if you statesman to consciousness sick.”

The advisory was released aft 2 Australian teenagers and a British pistillate died from suspected methanol poisoning aft drinking tainted intoxicant successful Laos.

—With files from Global News’ Katie Dangerfield