VietNamNet Bridge – According to the amended Penal Code bill submitted to the National Assembly Monday, some crimes such as rape, bribery and embezzlement would no longer carry the death penalty.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Justice Committee Le Thi Thu Ba said that the death penalty should not be abolished for three crimes at present: producing and trading counterfeit cookings and medicines; bribery; and embezzlement. (photo: VNA)

Other crimes also recommended for removal from the list of death penalty crimes include producing and trading faked commodities like food, medicines; producing, storing and transporting counterfeit money, bonds and cheques.

Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong said the draft amended Penal Code has narrowed the list of crimes that carry the death penalty to just some extremely serious crimes that are conducted savagely, cruelly and crimes that seriously threaten national security and social order.

The government also asked the National Assembly to consider decriminalising illegal drugs, instead considering drug addicts patients and victims.

Though agreeing with the annulment of the death penalty for many crimes, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Justice Committee Le Thi Thu Ba said that the death penalty should not be abolished for three crimes at present: producing and trading counterfeit foods and medicines; bribery; and embezzlement.

“Corruption is considered a national disaster and it occurs frequently and very seriously and we need to seriously deal with this,” Thu Ba said.

Minister of Home Affairs Tran Van Tuan on Monday also presented the trial election of communal chair-people by local people policy. However, an important part of this policy has been eliminated: giving more power to communal chairmen.

“The National Assembly Legal Committee agrees to maintain the name and the power of chair-people who are elected by the people,” said the committee’s Chairman Nguyen Van Thuan.

However, the National Assembly Legal Committee asked for a clarification of the scientific basis and the legality of the trial election of communal chair-people by the people and the abolishment of district and ward-level People’s Councils.

According to Minister Tuan, chair-people who are elected by the people will be dismissed by the people if they don’t fulfill their duties and lose voters’ confidence. According to the scheme on trial election of communal chair-people by the people, if one-third of local voters distrust their communal chair-people, the Chairman of the District People’s Committee will consider a vote of dismissal.

However, the National Assembly Legal Committee asked: Is it necessary to dismiss a chairman who is elected by the people under the approval of the Chairman of the District People’s Committee and the People’s Council?

The scheme also sets conditions for candidates for the communal chairman post elected by the people: Those in urban areas must be at least university graduates; vocational school graduates at least for those in the rural areas; high-school graduates for those in mountainous areas; and secondary-school graduates for those in extremely disadvantaged areas.

The candidates must have clear action programmes and be experts in local customs. The candidates may be recommended by the People’s Council, voters or self-nominated.

National Assembly deputies will continue discussing this scheme in groups Tuesday.

Le Nhung