The trial of Vietnam’s “godfather” of organized crime ended Thursday with a result even the defense expected: a death sentence for the man whose case captivated the nation with its tales of rampant official corruption.
Truong Van Cam, known as Nam Cam, will face a firing squad along with five associates for spinning a web of bribery, gambling and murder that entangled government officials.
Outsiders viewed the trial, involving 155 defendants in three courtrooms, as scripted theater that reflected a tug of war between Nam Cam, the government and the Communist Party.
The trial exposed close links between organized crime and members of the Communist Party, embarrassing a leadership that has prided itself on its anti-corruption stance.
Two members of the party’s elite Central Committee were found guilty of taking bribes.
