A Vietnamese property tycoon who was imprisoned to death for a multi-billion-dollar fraud begged a court to spare her life on Tuesday ( Nov 26 ), claiming she was attempting to pay back the stolen funds.
One of the biggest problem instances in history, residence designer Truong My Lan, 68, was found guilty earlier this year of embezzling funds from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), which lawyers claimed she controlled. He is now condemned to die for the scam totaling US$ 27 billion.
The court’s decision is anticipated in the coming weeks, and she is bringing an appeal against her word in Ho Chi Minh City.
In her final remarks before the court, Lan said:” My only thought is on how to repay the debt to the SBV ( State Bank of Vietnam ) and the people. I do n’t consider the harm my family and I are causing.
” I feel pained due to the waste of regional tools,” Lan said, adding she felt” pretty embarrassed to become charged with this murder”.
” Choose evaluate and lower my word,” she asked the court.
If Lan actively returns three-quarters of the smuggled goods and is found to have cooperated with regulators in sufficient numbers, Lan may leave the death penalty, per Asian rules.
But lawyers argued on Monday that she had not met the circumstances, and emphasised her murder’s effects were” large and without law”.