First up, the BBC:
Vietnam fraud trial: Death penalty for ex-head of OceanBank
The former head of a major Vietnamese bank has been sentenced to death for his role in a fraud case involving millions of dollars of illegal loans.Nguyen Xuan Son, who served as general director of OceanBank, was convicted of embezzlement, abuse of power and economic mismanagement.
Dozens of former employees also received lengthy prison sentences in the major corruption trial.
Nguyen Xuan Son's lawyer told Reuters he would appeal the verdict.
OceanBank is partially-state owned, so Son's crime of mishandling state money was thought to be particularly serious. After leaving the bank, he rose to be head of state oil giant PetroVietnam.
Vietnam is one of the world's biggest executioners, according to Amnesty International, but this is believed to be the first time in years that the death penalty has been given to such a high-flying former official.From Jurist Paper Chase:
Earlier in the day, the bank's ex-chairman Ha Van Tham, once one of the richest people in Vietnam, was jailed for life on the same charges, and for violating lending rules....MORE
Vietnam fraud trial: 51 ex-bankers found guilty
[JURIST] A Vietnamese Court began issuing verdicts [Vietnam Net report] and sentences Friday in an ongoing anti-corruption case for members of Ocean Bank, with former CEO Nguyen Xuan Son being sentenced to death for embezzlement.That Vietnam Net story includes a picture of Ha Van Tham, he looks very sad.
Other sentences include life in prison for Ha Van Tham, former Chairman of Ocean bank. The 51 officials and bankers who stood trial were accused of mismanagement leading to losses [BBC report] of USD $69 million. The charges implicated dozens of the men down the ranks, targeting accountants and branch managers....MORE
