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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Saudi Arabia: Death penalty sought for 28 espionage suspects

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Public beheading in Saudi Arabia
Public beheading in Saudi Arabia
Manama: A government prosecutor called for the death penalty for 28 suspects -- 27 Saudis and one Afghan -- and for severe jail terms for the remaining four, three Saudis and one Iranian.

A business analyst and a security serviceman are among the 32 people put on trial in Saudi Arabia this week for spying for Iran.

The 32 suspects are accused of high treason against the kingdom by collaborating with Iranian intelligence.

The security serviceman worked for a sector tasked with the security and safety of pilgrims, the court in the capital Riyadh heard as the last eight suspects, all Saudi nationals, went on trial on Tuesday, Saudi daily Okaz reported.

The serviceman asked the judges to name a lawyer to defend him, explaining that he did not have the financial resources to hire an attorney.

However, a judge told him that he would have to pay the state back in case it was found out that he was financially able to hire a lawyer, he changed his mind and said he would have his own lawyer, Okaz said.

Another suspect who pleaded to be bailed out was told that he needed the approval of the interior minister and that he should fill in an application.

Source: Gulf News, Feb. 25, 2016

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