Vietnamese Real Estate Tycoon Sentenced To Life For Fraud

A Vietnamese real estate tycoon was convicted of fraudulently obtaining property worth billions of dollars and sentenced to life in prison, in a high-profile case central to the government’s anti-corruption crackdown, Hau Dinh and David Rising reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Truong My Lan was previously convicted in April by the same Ho Chi Minh City court for fraud amounting to $12.5 billion—nearly 3% of the country’s gross domestic product—in a separate case and sentenced to death by lethal injection. I Photo: Ministry of Public Security

Truong My Lan was previously convicted in April by the same Ho Chi Minh City court for fraud amounting to $12.5 billion—nearly 3% of the country’s gross domestic product—in a separate case and sentenced to death by lethal injection.

The trials were split into two parts due to the number of allegations against her, and Thursday’s verdict adds to Lan’s legal troubles as she awaits her appeal for the death sentence.

Vietnam has issued more than 2,000 death sentences in the past decade and executed over 400 prisoners. The death penalty is applicable for 14 different crimes but is generally reserved for cases involving murder and drug trafficking.

Former President Vo Van Thuong resigned in March after being implicated in the campaign.

Since 2016, thousands of party officials have faced disciplinary action, including former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and former parliamentary head Vuong Dinh Hue, both of whom resigned. In total, eight members of the powerful Politburo have been ousted on corruption charges, compared to none between 1986 and 2016.s