According to a report by the Yue News Agency on August 20th, in the morning of that day, the Vietnamese National Assembly heard presentations and review reports regarding the draft 'Criminal Law (Amendment)'.
Entrusted by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Liang San Guangda, the Minister of Public Security will state during his brief presentation that the amendment to the Criminal Code aims to institutionalize the Party's propositions and directions regarding judicial reform, building a socialist legal state, innovating legislation and law enforcement, integrating with international standards, combating crime, corruption, waste, and negative phenomena, as well as gradually reducing the scope of application of the death penalty.
The draft code consists of 3 parts, 25 chapters, and 415 articles. It is based on the 2013 Constitution and related laws. The draft adds provisions regarding organized crime, as well as the establishment or participation in organized criminal groups. It also introduces 9 new charges in areas such as economic affairs, cyber security, high technology, environment, public safety, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, it includes several new acts within the existing charges.
It is noteworthy that the draft code reduces the scope of application of the death penalty for six offenses, retaining it only for four offenses: treason, homicide, terrorism, and illegal drug production. Treason, rape of persons under 16 years of age, drug trafficking, crimes against humanity, and war crimes will no longer be punishable by death. The draft also eliminates penalties for commercial entities that engage in criminal activities related to fundraising, and doubles the amounts of fines as well as the quantitative standards for convictions and sentences.
In June last year, Vietnam abolished eight crimes that could result in the death penalty, including crimes of subverting the people's government, destroying national material and technical infrastructure, producing and trafficking various types of counterfeit drugs, crimes of undermining peace and initiating aggressive wars, espionage, illegal transportation of drugs, corruption, and bribery.
