A court in Laos has sentenced a Thai businessman and nine former senior Laos state officials to life imprisonment in four major corruption and bribery cases, marking one of the country’s most significant anti-corruption rulings.
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The verdicts were announced during a press conference on 1 July 2026 by Lindaemon Sidaphon, acting head of the Vientiane Capital People’s Court. The four cases involved a total of 17 defendants, including two women, comprising former senior government officials and business figures. The convictions covered offences including corruption, bribery, abuse of office, document forgery and fraud involving state assets.
The first case concerned corruption at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Former ministry official Sukhunkham Kaewmano was convicted of corruption and document forgery. The court sentenced her to life imprisonment, imposed a fine and ordered her to repay US$6.5 million to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The second case involved bribery among former senior officials from the State Inspection Organisation, the Bank of the Lao PDR, the Party Inspection Department and other agencies. Eight defendants were charged with accepting and paying bribes, abusing their positions and acting as intermediaries. Former department heads Sithone Suliyawong and Od Phomsiangdy were each sentenced to life imprisonment. Three other defendants received 12-year prison terms, while two were jailed for two years. Thongphet Duangngern also received a life sentence under the fourth case. The court ordered the confiscation of cash amounting to several hundred thousand US dollars, luxury Mercedes-Benz and Audi vehicles, and land.
The third case centred on fraud involving the Agricultural Promotion Bank. Four defendants, including former state officials and businesspeople, were convicted of defrauding state assets, corruption, bribery and document forgery. Viengsouk Simmakone and Bounlom Phongchalern were sentenced to life imprisonment. Businessman Duangta Hanuvong received a 10-year prison sentence, while Khamphaeng Vichidvongsa was jailed for two years after receiving a reduced sentence for helping to repay part of the losses. The defendants were also ordered to jointly pay a fine equal to 1% of total damages of 14.3 billion kip, plus an additional fine worth twice the value of the bribes involved.
The fourth case concerned corruption linked to a state electricity dam project operated by Electricite du Laos (EDL). Thai businessman Apichat Wannakul and four former senior EDL executives - Thongphet, Phonvisai, Saisanid and Khambon - were convicted of defrauding state assets, abuse of office and bribery. All five received life sentences. Apichat was ordered to pay US$24.8 million in compensation to EDL. The court also ordered the seizure of 10 bank accounts, 11 land plots and vehicles belonging to the Thai businessman and his wife. If those assets prove insufficient, property belonging to the four former EDL officials will also be sold. More than US$1 million in bribe money was confiscated by the state.
Manager Online reported that the rulings conclude proceedings in the four cases before the Vientiane Capital People’s Court. The sentences include imprisonment, financial penalties, compensation orders and extensive asset seizures.
Picture courtesy of Manager Online
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Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 4 July 2026