Death sentences imposed on corrupt Vietnamese officials will now be commuted to life in prison if they pay back at least 75 per cent of the illegal money they made.
The new regulation was part of the revised penal code that an overwhelmingly majority passed in the National Assembly.
Under the revision, which takes effect from July 1 2016, the country also will abolish the death penalty for seven crimes: surrendering to the enemy, opposing order, destruction of projects of national security importance, robbery, drug possession, drug appropriation, and the production and trade of fake food.
The revised law will also spare the lives of those who are 75 years old or older.
The ruling Communist Party has made fighting corruption one of its top priorities.
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