About a year ago, the Vietnamese businessman Trinh Xuan Thanh and his lover were spectacularly kidnapped in Berlin. The processing of the case but still takes: Only a few days ago, a Tathelfer was sentenced to a prison sentence. An internal "Status Report" of the investigators from June now reveals that secret service staff Trinh have brought in a Slovak government aircraft from the Schengen area. This reports the "FAZ" by advance notification.
Months ago, the question had arisen as to whether the Slovak government was involved in the kidnapping. So far, however, only conjectures were known. However, according to the investigators, there is "almost no doubt" that Trinh had been transported in the government plane.
Slovakia had always denied involvement in the case - citing a statement by the Vietnamese Government that Trinh had not traveled through Slovakia. The investigators, however, assume that this statement has been manipulated - allegedly by an "insider" in the Slovak government. One of the names that falls is that of the former Slovakian government advisor Quang Le Hong.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister travels to Berlin in September
The investigators also agree on the purpose of a meeting between the Vietnamese Interior Minister To Lam and his former Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak. This had "the sole purpose" to "Mr. Trinh relatively easily from the Schengen area to Vietnam to spend".
Even the abduction case itself had created a tense relationship between Berlin and Hanoi. But now the new findings could also overshadow a visit planned for September: Then the Vietnamese Foreign Minister travels to Germany. Actually, about one year after the abduction, this appointment should lead to an increasing relaxation between the two countries.
Berlin had recently also wished that: "It is not only the desire of the Vietnamese to return to normalcy at some point, but of course the Federal Government as well", said a high German diplomat of the "FAZ". "However, after such an event, you can not just go to normal business and the kidnapping was a flagrant breach of international law, which will surely play a role in one way or another in the future."
In Vietnam, Trinh was sentenced to life imprisonment in two trials for corruption and mismanagement.