Vietnam to remove death penalty for embezzlement, sparing tycoon’s life

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"Vietnam to Abolish Death Penalty for Embezzlement and Other Offenses"

Vietnam to remove death penalty for embezzlement, sparing tycoon’s life analysis cover image CNN 8.7
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Original Article Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/25/asia/vietnam-death-penalty-intl-hnk
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Vietnam's National Assembly has unanimously decided to abolish the death penalty for eight specific offenses, including embezzlement and actions aimed at overthrowing the government, effective from next month. This legislative change is particularly significant as it spares the life of prominent real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, who was previously sentenced to death for her involvement in a $12 billion fraud case. The amendment to the Criminal Code, announced on Wednesday, also includes other crimes that will no longer lead to capital punishment, such as vandalism of state property, the production of counterfeit medicines, and various forms of espionage. Under the new regulations, the maximum penalty for these offenses will now be life imprisonment, signaling a notable shift in Vietnam's approach to certain financial and political crimes.

In addition to the changes regarding the death penalty, the amendment stipulates that individuals who were sentenced to death for these offenses prior to July 1 and have not been executed will see their sentences converted to life imprisonment. This includes Lan, whose legal representatives have not yet commented on the decision. According to legal experts, the automatic commutation of her sentence reflects the new legal framework that prioritizes life sentences over capital punishment for specific crimes. While this reform marks a significant change in Vietnam's criminal justice system, it is important to note that ten offenses will still be punishable by death, including murder, treason, and drug trafficking. Moreover, the exact number of individuals on death row remains undisclosed, as capital punishment data is considered a state secret in Vietnam. The country has maintained lethal injection as the sole method of execution since the abolishment of firing squads in 2011, further emphasizing its commitment to a more humane approach to sentencing in certain cases.

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Source URL: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/25/asia/vietnam-death-penalty-intl-hnk

Vietnam will remove the death penalty for eight offenses from next month, including embezzlement and activities aimed at overthrowing the government, parliament said on Wednesday, sparing the life of a tycoon in a $12 billion fraud case.

The National Assembly, the country’s lawmaking body, unanimously ratified the amendment to the Criminal Code earlier on Wednesday to abolish the death penalty for the crimes, it said in a statement.

Other crimes that will no longer lead to the death penalty include vandalizing state property, manufacturing fake medicine, jeopardizing peace, triggering invasive wars, espionage and carrying drugs, the official Vietnam News Agency said.

The maximum sentence for these crimes will now be life imprisonment, the report said.

Those who were sentenced to death for these offenses before July 1 but have not yet been executed will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, the report added.

These will include real estate tycoon Truong My Lan, the chairwoman of real estate developer Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, who wassentenced to death last yearon embezzlement charges.

Lan’s lawyers didn’t immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

“According to the amendment of the Criminal Code, her sentence will automatically be reduced to life imprisonment,” lawyer Ngo Anh Tuan, who is not part of Lan’s defense team, told Reuters.

Ten offenses will remain subject to capital punishment in Vietnam, including murder, treason, terrorism and the sexual abuse of children, according to the report. Drug trafficking will also remain a capital offense.

Capital punishment data is a state secret in Vietnam and it is not known how many people are currently on death row in the country. Lethal injection is the only method of execution after firing squads were abolished in 2011.

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Source: CNN