Kien also suggested increasing fines for such crimes as a deterrent.

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

Many deputies agreed to separate the crime of storing and carrying drugs from that of smuggling drugs.

Many deputies also suggested jettisoning the death penalty for the crime of storing and carrying drugs.

“We should also consider excluding gambling crimes [from the criminal codes],” said deputy Tran The Vuong.

National Assembly Law Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Thuan suggested allowing registered gambling, noting that the government still sells lottery tickets.

Deputies also suggested holding entities, besides individuals, responsible for crimes, especially in the tax and environment fields.

However, Chairwoman of the NA Judicial Committee Le Thi Thu Ba said it would be against the cardinal principle of the Criminal Codes that stipulates only individuals are subjected to criminal proceedings, adding that the issue needed “further research.”

In reply, deputy Vuong said the promises had been made several times to look into the issue, but “it may possibly take 100 years before it is researched again.”

Reported by Xuan Toan