Stephen Ward Kim, a 64-year-old U.S. citizen, has been arrested for allegedly exploiting Vietnam’s tax exemption policy on imported goods for export processing to evade more than 3.2 billion VND (approximately $125,000) in taxes.

On August 4, the Hanoi Police Department announced that the Security Investigation Agency had issued a temporary arrest warrant for Stephen Ward Kim to investigate allegations of tax evasion.

Previously, the Economic Security Division of the Hanoi Police uncovered legal violations at Durian Co., Ltd., headquartered in the former Ba Vi District’s Vat Lai Commune.

Durian is a 100% foreign-owned enterprise, with Stephen Ward Kim listed as the legal representative. The company primarily imports raw materials for manufacturing clothing products under a temporary import - re-export model.

By taking advantage of tax exemption policies for imported goods used in export production, Kim, through Durian Co., Ltd., allegedly falsified export declarations and manipulated tax-free and non-taxable categories to evade taxes, amounting to over 3.2 billion VND.

Based on the evidence collected, the Hanoi Police’s Security Investigation Agency decided to initiate a criminal case, press charges, and detain Kim pending investigation on charges of "Tax evasion."

The case remains under investigation and may expand further.

Tien Dung