the Vietnamese National Assembly Standing Committee focused on amendments to the Criminal Code

the Vietnamese National Assembly Standing Committee focused on amendments to the Criminal Code in a working session presided by National Assembly vice chairman Uong Chu Luu. The members' discussion focused on limiting the number of offences punishable by death and criminalising the establishment of or participation in organised crime, speculation, tax evasion and fraud. The chairwoman of the Social Affairs Committee, Truong Thi Mai, emphasised that revisions were needed to deal with urgent practical issues, and deputies had contributed many ideas for limiting the number of crimes subject to the death penalty, she said. National Assembly Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son said, although the number of offences that carry the death penalty should be reduced, the reduction needed to be carefully considered. The death penalty for serious crimes against national security and defence should remain in place, he argued. The chairman of the Ombudsman Committee, Tran The Vuong, said that uniform criteria for crimes subject to the death penalty were needed. Many Standing Committee members agreed that the death penalty should remain for crimes such as misappropriation of State assets and for accepting bribes, destroying crucial public works or other transgressions against national security.