Vietnam to Remove Death Penalty for Embezzlement, Sparing Tycoon’s Life
Vietnam’s National Assembly has abolished the death penalty for embezzlement and several other offenses, including vandalizing state property and espionage. This change spares the life of tycoon Truong My Lan, whose death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. However, the death penalty remains in place for serious crimes like murder and treason.
The Vietnamese parliament recently made a significant change to its criminal justice system, abolishing the death penalty for several offenses effective next month. This legislative move includes embezzlement, which has potentially saved the life of prominent tycoon Truong My Lan, who was previously sentenced to death for her role in a major fraud case totaling $12 billion. The National Assembly ratified this updated Criminal Code in a unanimous vote, showing a clear shift in legal policy.
In addition to embezzlement, other crimes that will no longer carry the death penalty include vandalizing state property, producing counterfeit medications, espionage, and drug trafficking. According to reports from the official Vietnam News Agency, the maximum punishment for these offenses will now be life imprisonment. This adjustment reflects a broader reassessment of the severity of penalties for white-collar crime and other non-violent offenses.
The change means Lan’s death sentence, among others handed down before July 1, will automatically be converted to life imprisonment. Though her legal team has not responded to inquiries, lawyer Ngo Anh Tuan clarified that this change means there is no possibility of execution for those cases moving forward.
Despite these reforms, certain serious crimes will still warrant capital punishment in Vietnam, including murder, terrorism, treason, and cases of child sexual abuse. Drug trafficking remains an offense eligible for the death penalty as well. Data regarding capital punishment in Vietnam is sparse, given that it is considered a state secret, further complicating the public’s understanding of the issue. Notably, lethal injection is the sole execution method used after Vietnam phased out firing squads in 2011.
Vietnam’s recent decision to abolish the death penalty for several offenses, including embezzlement, marks a notable change in its criminal justice system. This move spares the life of real estate tycoon Truong My Lan and shifts the maximum penalty for various non-violent crimes to life imprisonment. However, serious offenses like murder and terrorism remain punishable by death. Therefore, while this is a significant reform, the country still maintains capital punishment for certain crimes.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
