A bartender in Vietnam has been arrested after allegedly preparing a toxic limoncello cocktail that led to the tragic deaths of British tourist Greta Otteson and her fiancé, Arno Els.
The couple, aged 33 and 36 respectively, were found dead in their villa in Hoi An on December 26, after consuming the lethal drink. It’s believed that the couple died from methanol poisoning. Local bartender Le Tan Gia, 45, was arrested on Friday and charged with violating food safety regulations.
Gia is accused of creating the toxic limoncello using 70-percent medical alcohol, which he mixed with water, lemonade, and sugar on December 24. The two tourists consumed the drink at a local restaurant around 3:30 pm that afternoon. The following day, Greta reported to her parents that she had the “worst hangover ever” and was seeing “black spots” in her vision. Despite these concerning symptoms, the couple decided to rest.
The couple was later found dead in their Hoi An villa on Boxing Day. Greta was found lifeless in her bed, while Arno was discovered in a separate locked room.
According to police, forensics confirmed that the limoncello served to the couple was the source of the poisoning. The bartender’s arrest followed an investigation into the deaths, with authorities continuing to handle the case in accordance with the law.
The bartender faces serious charges, and further prosecution will be based on evidence that he served the couple methanol-laced drinks, resulting in their deaths. Authorities are continuing their investigation.
