This undated image provided on Aug 2, 2017 shows Trinh Xuan Thanh, a businessman and former functionary of Vietnam's Communist Party sitting on a park bench in Berlin, Germany. (dpa via AP photo)HANOI -- Vietnam says it regrets comments by the German Foreign Ministry accusing Vietnamese intelligence services of kidnapping a former Vietnamese oil executive who's wanted back home on embezzlement charges. German authorities believe Trinh Xuan Thanh was snatched in Berlin and gave the Vietnamese intelligence attache 48 hours Wednesday to leave the country. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters Thursday that the comments were “very regrettable” and that Mr Thanh had turned himself in to police in Vietnam. She says Vietnam wishes to develop strategic relations with Germany but did not elaborate further on the kidnap allegations.

Source: Bangkok Post August 03, 2017 10:18 UTC