The Attapeu Provincial People’s Court convicted nine people on 16 July over illegal currency trading and unlawful lending, ordering them to return nearly LAK 28 billion (about USD 1.26 million) in illicit proceeds to the state.
According to authorities’ reports, judges found Anoukone Xaymany, Thitsamai Xaphakdy, Vanvilai Xaisena, Davin Manivong, Noiphetta Kittiyalath, Soutsana Chanthavisouk, Phaijit Simmalath, Ae Ningsamone, and Sowulichanh Boutavong guilty of misconduct, illegal currency management, unlawful business operations, and usury.
The court ordered the nine defendants to repay a combined LAK 27.8 billion (about USD 1.26 million) in illicit proceeds and cover the costs of the investigation and court proceedings.
Each defendant also received a one-year prison sentence and a LAK 10 million (about USD 455) fine. The court suspended the remaining prison time for those who had already served part of their sentence before trial, while sentencing the rest to fully suspended terms.
Noiphetta Kittiyalath and Soutsana Chanthavisouk received the largest financial penalty, with the court ordering them to jointly repay more than LAK 13 billion (about USD 593,000). Davin Manivong received the largest individual restitution order of nearly LAK 5 billion (about USD 229,000). The remaining defendants must repay amounts ranging from about LAK 118 million to LAK 3.4 billion (roughly USD 5,400 to USD 155,000).
The court also ordered the group to cover the costs of the investigation and all court fees.
Part of a Wider Crackdown
The ruling adds to a growing number of financial crime cases pursued by Lao authorities this year as they tighten enforcement against illegal lending, unauthorized currency trading, and corruption.
Earlier this month, the Vientiane Capital People’s Court sentenced at least ten former government officials, state enterprise executives, and a Thai businessman to life imprisonment in four major corruption cases involving bribery, embezzlement, fraud, and abuse of office.
The court also ordered the seizure of cash, land, vehicles, bank accounts, and other assets. In the largest case, Thai businessman Aphichart Vannakul must pay more than USD 24.8 million in compensation to Electricity of Laos (EDL) over a hydropower corruption scheme.
