On February 7, the Criminal Investigation Police Department of Quang Nam Province announced the arrest of Le Tan Gia (born 1979, residing in Cam Nam Ward, Hoi An) on charges of violating food safety regulations.

The case came to light on December 26 when authorities received reports of two foreigners found dead in separate rooms at a local accommodation in Hoi An.

Autopsies confirmed that both victims died from methanol poisoning after consuming a type of alcohol they had previously ingested.

Investigations revealed that at 3:30 p.m. on December 24, Le Tan Gia, a bartender at a restaurant in Hoi An, used 70-degree medical alcohol - intended strictly for disinfection and not for consumption - to prepare two bottles of Limoncello (a lemon liqueur). He mixed the alcohol with filtered water, lemon peels, and white sugar before serving it to the tourists.

Shortly after drinking, both individuals suffered severe methanol poisoning, which led to their deaths.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case.

Ha Nam