Tycoon escapes death penalty

Day in court: A file picture of Lan (centre) looking on at a court in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has abolished the death penalty for eight crimes including espionage, graft and attempting to overthrow the government. — AFP

A property tycoon sentenced to death for fraud totalling US$27bil (RM114bil) will no longer face execution, her lawyer said as the country abolished capi­tal punishment for eight crimes, including property embezzlement.

Property developer Truong My Lan’s lawyer Giang Hong Thanh said that her death penalty “will be converted to life imprisonment ... I informed Ms. Lan this morning, she is very happy.”