death penalty in vietnam:Truong Mai Lan, a Vietnamese billionaire businessman, has been sentenced to death for carrying out the world’s largest bank fraud. This decision was given by a court in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. The case, involving a staggering US$44 billion fraud, is an important chapter in the legal history of Vietnam.
Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank had alleged
Lan, 67, is one of the few women in Vietnam to be sentenced to death for white-collar crimes. He was accused of defrauding the Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank over a period of 11 years. LAN took control of the bank from 2012 to 2022. After this, billions were invested through shell companies by bribing government officials. The total amount owed to the bank is US$27 billion.
Statements of 2700 witnesses were recorded
The prosecution recorded statements of 2700 witnesses in the court against Lan, 200 lawyers and 10 government lawyers participated in the court proceedings in this case. Evidence was presented in 108 boxes weighing 6 tonnes. Lan’s conviction is considered to be the most sensational corruption case ever in Vietnam. The case led to the resignation of two presidents and two deputy prime ministers, as well as the jailing of several officials.
85 other persons were also convicted
In addition to Lan’s conviction, 85 persons were also convicted in the fraud-related case. The punishment can range from life imprisonment to 20-30 years. Lan’s husband and niece were sentenced to 9 and 17 years in prison. However, prosecutors in the fraud case raised the possibility that the money raised through corruption may never be recovered. However, some people believe that now after the death penalty, Lan may return some of the embezzled crores of rupees.
