Pedophilia suspect identified after world appeal 16/10/2007 00:00

16 October 2007

LYON (AFP) - Interpol announced Monday it had identified a man it says posted pictures of himself raping young boys in Vietnam and Cambodia, a week after issuing an unprecedented appeal for help.

The suspect was identified as an English teacher at a South Korean school who is now believed to be in Thailand, the International Criminal Police Organization said in a statement, citing information provided by five sources from three continents.

The man apparently remains at large and Interpol appealed for public assistance to track him down.

The suspect flew from South Korea to Bangkok last Thursday, where security cameras documented his arrival at immigration, the Lyon-France based organization said, citing help from South Korean and Thai authorities.

Interpol has also determined the man's name, nationality, date of birth, passport number and current and previous work places, but provided none of those details in its statement.

"Thailand is at the centre of an international manhunt and authorities in the country, in cooperation with Interpol and police around the world, are hunting him down," Interpol chief Ronald Noble said in the statement.

Some 350 people reportedly responded to Interpol's groundbreaking step last Monday of issuing a global request for assistance on its website, along with a picture of the suspect recovered from one of his own images.

"The response and contribution we have had from the public has been remarkable," said Noble, who also praised the media for publicizing the search.

International police and prosecutors are still collecting and analysing evidence to bring charges against the man Interpol has dubbed "Vico."

AFP

Subject: French news