Billionaire Truong My Lan was sentenced to death for embezzling the equivalent of 3% of Vietnam’s GDP. Authorities say they’re setting an example, but the sentence is seen as an extreme step by Vietnam’s EU partners.
Archived version: https://archive.ph/4EGSZ
I think there are plenty of areas where the EU says one thing and does another, but in this case they purely object to a death penalty, which is the universal EU stance.
And the western world could learn a thing or two about what punishments for financial crimes should be. Instead of a slap on the wrist and a fine, it will make others stop and think before doing the same again in Vietnam.
I’m firmly against the death penalty and I hope that the appeal court overturns it and makes it life without parole, but when I see proper punishment for those that ruin millions of lives by stealing money, I feel envy.