Legal Representative of Commercial Legal Entity Committing a Crime: Theoretical and Practical Issues in Vietnam
Keywords:
Legal Representative, Legal Entity, Commercial Legal Entity, Criminal Proceedings, Vietnamese Law, Corporate LiabilityAbstract
The criminal liability of legal representatives in commercial entities under Vietnamese law presents complex theoretical and practical challenges, particularly as the 2015 Penal Code (amended 2017) formally introduced corporate criminal liability for the first time. This article analyses the legal framework surrounding the representation of commercial legal entities in criminal proceedings under Vietnamese law. The article discusses the role of the legal representative in protecting the rights and interests of legal entities, highlighting significant issues such as the rigid limitation to "legal representatives" in proceedings, challenges in appointing a representative when none is available, and the absence of detailed regulations on the rights and obligations of representatives during criminal investigations. Suggestions for improvement include expanding the scope of representatives allowed in proceedings, adding legal provisions for temporary appointments, and defining the representative’s procedural rights. These proposals aim to address current legislative gaps and enhance the effectiveness of criminal proceedings involving legal entities in Vietnam.
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