VIETNAM: COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE IN PUBLIC LAND FRAUD CASE

in Vietnam, a Ho Chin Minh City court commuted the death sentence handed to property speculator Pham Thi Tuyet Lan, 52, in 2007 for orchestrating an illegal property deal that involved public lands and massive bribery.
According to the court, Lan sold 11 ha of public land in Go Vap she had acquired between 2000 and December 2002 by bribing officials. She pocketed VND16.6 billion ($1.3 million).
Lan has now 25 years for violating land-use regulations and bribery, as the HCM City People's Court overturned a verdict by a lower court.
The prosecution had asked for a life sentence for her. All the money involved in the scam will be seized.