Selling hundreds of trees illegally, 2 leaders of the Forest Protection Management Board in Nghe An were arrested

On the afternoon of January 21, speaking with a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper, Major Ngo Anh Tuan - Head of Quy Hop District Police said that the unit had just prosecuted and temporarily detained Le Phung Dieu (48 years old), Head of the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board and Nguyen Hong Linh (52 years old), Deputy Head of the Pu Huong Nature Reserve Management Board for the crime of "Taking advantage of position and power while performing official duties" as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 356 of the Penal Code.

Police searched Mr. Dieu's workplace. Photo: TH

According to the police investigation, in June 2020, Le Phung Dieu, who was then the Head of the Quy Hop Forest Protection Management Board, together with Deputy Head Nguyen Hong Linh, took advantage of his position and authority to direct the organization of the sale and allow the exploitation of 368 acacia trees on an area of ​​nearly 2.3 hectares of protective forest in Khoanh 7, Sub-area 332, Bac Son commune, contrary to the provisions of the law, causing damage to state property of nearly 400 million VND.

Shortly after selling the forest illegally, Mr. Dieu and Mr. Linh were transferred to another unit.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Linh listens to the investigation agency read the arrest warrant. Photo: TH

During the search of the residence and workplace, the police seized many related records, documents and evidence. The case is under further investigation.