Vietnam to Remove Death Penalty for Embezzlement, Sparing Tycoon’s Life

Vietnam will abolish the death penalty for eight offenses, including embezzlement, starting next month. This change spares the life of tycoon Truong My Lan, sentenced to death last year for embezzlement. Instead, these offenses will now face maximum life imprisonment. Ten offenses, including murder and drug trafficking, will continue to carry capital punishment in the country.

Vietnam is set to eliminate the death penalty for eight specific offenses starting next month, which includes embezzlement. This change comes as a significant development for the law and government. The National Assembly confirmed the amendment to the Criminal Code on Wednesday, marking a unanimous decision which notably spares the life of a high-profile tycoon involved in a major fraud case worth $12 billion.

Among the offenses that will no longer carry the death penalty are vandalism of state property, production of counterfeit medicine, and various activities including jeopardizing peace or espionage. Instead of capital punishment, the maximum sentence for these crimes will shift to life imprisonment, as reported by the official Vietnam News Agency.

For those who had already received death sentences prior to July 1 but have not yet undergone execution, their sentences will automatically convert to life imprisonment. This includes Truong My Lan, a prominent real estate executive and chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, who received the death penalty for embezzlement last year.

Lan’s attorneys did not respond to inquiries regarding this amendment. However, Ngo Anh Tuan, a lawyer not involved in her defense, mentioned to Reuters, “According to the amendment of the Criminal Code, her sentence will automatically be reduced to life imprisonment.”

Despite these significant changes, ten offenses will still carry capital punishment in Vietnam. Those include murder, treason, acts of terrorism, and child sexual abuse. Drug trafficking will similarly remain punishable by death, maintaining some serious crimes under the ultimate penalty.

Vietnam’s capital punishment statistics are closely guarded, so the number of individuals on death row remains undisclosed. It is important to note that lethal injection is the sole method of execution as the country abolished firing squads back in 2011.

The amendment to Vietnam’s Criminal Code marks a notable shift in the country’s approach to serious crimes, particularly embezzlement. This decision not only spares the life of a well-known tycoon but aligns with broader trends toward reducing capital punishment. While some crimes will still be severely punished, the change suggests a significant move in the judicial landscape of Vietnam.

Original Source: www.usnews.com