Most deputies from the National Assembly’s Judicial Committee have opposed a proposal to scrap the death penalty for corruption, taking bribes and producing and smuggling counterfeit cooking and medicines.

The committee also said the crime of producing and smuggling counterfeit food and medicines was serious because it could affect human life on a large scale, hinder healthy economic development and cause other serious consequences.

Besides the three crimes, the government had also proposed abandoning the death penalty for rape, property fraud, smuggling, counterfeiting and supplying drugs.

At Monday’s National Assembly session, deputies of the Judicial Committee also took aim at a plan to remove the National Assembly representative body, known as the People’s Council, at district and ward levels.

According to the proposal, the initial step would be to remove the district and ward councils in 10 of the nation’s 63 cities and provinces.

National Assembly Law Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Thuan said there was no plan to deal with possible problems during the implementation of the plan.

Some deputies said the constitution may have to be modified if the plan went ahead.

Reported by Xuan Toan