Lawyers ask court to ‘spare’ Truong My Lan’s life

The appeal for clemency by the legal team of property mogul Truong My Lan, who is facing a death sentence for embezzlement, reflects a strategic push to emphasize her potential to contribute positively to the economy if spared. Here are the key points:

Arguments from Lan's Lawyers:
Economic Contribution:

Reviving stalled projects like Amigo and Mui Den Do in Ho Chi Minh City could generate substantial tax revenue for the state and create thousands of jobs.
The lawyers suggest that Lan's expertise and leadership are critical for these projects to move forward.
Asset Submission:

Lan has reportedly submitted VND323 trillion (US$12.7 billion) to compensate Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) for its losses.
Combined with the value of confiscated assets, her lawyers argue this should suffice to cover the damages she caused.
Double Punishment Argument:

The defense claims Lan is being penalized twice for actions committed during the same 2012-2022 period—once for violating banking regulations and again for embezzlement.
They request the embezzlement verdict be reconsidered to reduce her sentence to life imprisonment.
Prosecution's Stance:
Prosecutors argue there are no new developments that justify commuting her death sentence.
Lan's actions reportedly caused VND677 trillion ($27 billion) in losses to SCB over a decade, which they believe warrants the death penalty.
Broader Implications:
The case highlights:

The intersection of financial crime and economic stability in Vietnam.
The state's tough stance on high-profile corruption cases.
The potential economic and social fallout of stalled major property projects.
Whether the court will consider the defense's economic arguments as a basis for clemency remains to be seen.