Vietnam mulls scrapping death penalty for 6 offenses, retaining 4 capital crimes

Vietnam's National Assembly is set to debate proposals to amend three draft laws, including the revised Penal Code, during its first extraordinary sitting. One of the key changes focuses on the death penalty, which the government plans to narrow its application for six specific offenses. Currently, the Penal Code prescribes death as the highest punishment for ten crimes, but the proposed changes would abolish the death penalty for six offenses: rebellion, rape of minors, drug trafficking, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and terrorism against the government, which is expected to be merged with the terrorism offense.

The death penalty will still apply to treason, murder, terrorism, and illegal drug production. The move aims to align Vietnam's legislation with international trends and improve its standing in international judicial cooperation, extradition, and mutual legal assistance. The proposed amendments also include doubling fines and increasing monetary thresholds for sentencing, expanding grounds for excluding criminal liability in various fields, and introducing new offenses in sectors like cybersecurity, high technology, environment, public safety, and weapons of mass destruction.