Public security ministry proposes abolition of death penalty for six types of serious crimes

Accordingly, death penalty should only be retained for four serious crimes, including Treason (Article 108); Murder (Article 123); Illegal production of narcotic substances (Article 248); and Terrorism (Article 299).

Death penalty should be abolished for six other offences: Rioting (Article 112); Rape of a person under the age of 16 (Article 142); Illegal trading of narcotic substances (Article 251); Crimes against humanity (Article 422); War crimes (Article 423); and Terrorism aimed at opposing the people's administration (Article 113).

To ensure the practical implementation of this humanitarian policy, the new bill also introduces a provision allowing a death sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment if it has not been carried out after 20 years.

Previously, this provision was only provided for in a resolution of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court. It has now been formally incorporated into the draft law.

Noticeably, the ministry also proposed allowing the temporary suspension of criminal prosecution for up to three years in certain economic crime cases, enabling offenders to remedy the consequences. If the damage is fully remedied and the related project proves effective, the offender may be considered for exemption from criminal liability.

This bill will be submitted to the National Assembly at its working session in August and be adopted by the legislature in October this year./.