Local official sentenced to 3 months in prison for illegally logging Po Mu wood
(Baonghean.vn) - Vi Van Hoai (the ringleader in the illegal exploitation of Po Mu wood in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve) is a young party member and cadre of Hua Muong village, Hanh Dich commune (Que Phong).
» Nghe An: Trial of illegal Po Mu logging case
For his actions of profiteering and illegally exploiting Po Mu timber, Hoai was suspended from Party activities. On April 12, Hoai was sentenced to 3 months in prison by the People's Court of Que Phong district.
3 times in the forest to cut po mu
The illegal exploitation of po mu wood by Vi Van Hoai was clarified by the Investigation Police Agency of the Provincial Police as follows:
The first time,In early July 2016, Vi Van Hoai, Vi Van Hai, and Lo Van Phong (all residing in Hua Muong village, Hanh Dich commune) contributed 50,000 VND each to buy gasoline and brought chainsaws to Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, Hanh Dich commune, to exploit wood to make household items.
After 3 hours in the forest, they discovered a po mu tree. Hoai, Hai and Phong cut the tree into 3 pieces, sawing 14 wooden boards of different sizes; transported 8 boards home. The remaining wood was hidden near the logging area. This illegally logged po mu tree has a volume of 4.42m3.
 |
| Defendant Vi Van Hoai at the mobile court held by the People's Court of Que Phong district in Nam Giai commune on April 12, 2017. Photo by Nhat Lan |
Second time(about a week after the first exploitation), Vi Van Hoai and Lo Van Pao (also residing in Hua Muong village) each contributed 40 thousand dong; brought a chainsaw into the forest area from the previous time. Here, Hoai and Pao discovered and sawed down another po mu tree, cut it into 4 pieces, and sawed 2 wooden planks. Because it was dark, Hoai and Pao hid it on the side of the road, near the exploitation area. This po mu tree had a mass of 0.6m3.
The third time,Vi Van Hoai continued to go into the forest with Lo Van Pao, borrowing Lo Van Phong's chainsaw. At the previous illegal logging site, they discovered a po mu tree. Hoai and Pao sawed it down and cut it into 5 pieces; then sawed 2 wooden planks. Hoai and Pao transported one plank home. This po mu tree weighed 1.2m3.
 |
| Panorama of the trial. Photo by Nhat Lan |
In total, all three times, Vi Van Hoai and the subjects Hai, Phong, and Pao illegally exploited 6.22m3Po mu wood. The police investigation agency seized evidence including 1 chainsaw; 1 saw blade; 9 Po mu wood panels (7 panels seized at Vi Van Hoai's house; 1 panel seized at Lo Van Phong's house; 1 panel seized at Lo Van Pao's house).
Pơ mu wood belongs to Group IIA "List of endangered and rare forest flora and fauna" with restricted exploitation and use for commercial purposes, issued with Decree No. 32/2006/ND-CP dated March 30, 2006 of the Government; Vi Van Hoai committed the crime of "Violating regulations on forest exploitation and protection" as prescribed in Point a, Clause 1, Article 175 of the Penal Code.
 |
| Three suspects Vi Van Hai, Lo Van Phong, and Lo Van Pao at the trial. Photo: Nhat Lan |
Regarding the three subjects Hai, Phong, Pao, the investigation agency determined that they participated with Vi Van Hoai, but not to the extent of criminal prosecution; the case files were transferred to the competent authority for handling according to the provisions of law. Therefore, the People's Procuracy decided to prosecute before the People's Court of Que Phong district to try the accused Vi Van Hoai according to the provisions of law.
Regarding Vi Van Hoai's personal background, Que Phong People's Procuracy informed: Hoai (born in 1989), 9/12 education level, is a Party member, cadre of Hua Muong village. Hoai is married, has 2 young children (born in 2009 and 2013). In Vi Van Hoai's family, his grandfather is a person who contributed to the revolution, and was awarded the Resistance Medal by the State.
Regarding behavior, Hoai illegally exploited Po Mu wood to serve family life and not for illegal trading purposes.
Late Repentance
At the trial, the Que Phong People's Procuracy stated that Vi Van Hoai committed the crime for the first time and had no previous criminal record; after the incident was discovered, he confessed honestly, repented, and actively cooperated with the investigation agency to handle the case; the cause of the crime stemmed from difficult circumstances; having young children, having to support elderly people in the family; having relatives who have meritorious services...
 |
| Representative of Que Phong People's Procuracy stated his opinion on the impeachment of Vi Van Hoai. Photo: Nhat Lan |
However, as a young party member, Hoai should have been an exemplary follower of the Party and State's policies and guidelines; and propagated and mobilized the masses to follow. Vi Van Hoai did not fulfill his responsibilities as a party member and a village cadre. Not only that, Hoai also initiated and enticed others to violate the law on forest management and protection, thus damaging national assets.
Hoai's behavior is dangerous to society, affecting the management, protection, development of forests and management of forest products while this issue in Que Phong district is still complicated, so it needs to be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law. It is recommended to apply point a, clause 1, Article 175; points h, p; clause 1, clause 2; Article 46 of the Penal Code, sentencing defendant Vi Van Hoai to 3 - 6 months in prison.
 |
| Lawyers defend Vi Van Hoai at the trial. Photo by Nhat Lan |
Present at the trial, Vi Van Hoai's defense attorney found the opinion of the representative of the Que Phong People's Procuracy to be correct, and the investigation agency had accurate grounds for Vi Van Hoai's criminal acts of illegally exploiting Pơ mu wood. However, the defense attorney requested the Trial Panel to consider the fact that Vi Van Hoai had mitigating circumstances that needed to be applied, in order to apply an appropriate punishment, giving Hoai the opportunity to return to society soon.
Having the last word before the jury deliberated, Vi Van Hoai also clearly recognized his criminal acts. Hoai said that his crime was due to his family’s need for household items. The reason he chose to cut down the Po Mu tree was because this tree makes beautiful furniture and is light and easy to transport. After being discovered and brought to trial, he realized that his actions were wrong. Hoai promised “to never repeat the illegal logging…”
 |
| The jury sentenced defendant Vi Van Hoai. Photo by Nhat Lan |
Recognizing that the indictment of the Que Phong People's Procuracy was correct; in addition, the defense attorney had the same opinion; the defendant Vi Van Hoai himself admitted his crime and had truly repented, the Trial Panel unanimously agreed to apply Point a, Clause 1, Article 175; Points h, p; Clause 1, Clause 2; Article 46 of the Penal Code, deciding to sentence Vi Van Hoai to 3 months in prison.
According to the testimony of defendant Vi Van Hoai at the trial, after the case of illegal exploitation of Pơ mu wood was discovered, the authorities investigated and clarified, Hoai was criticized by the Party Committee of Hanh Dich commune and the Party cell of Hua Muong village and temporarily suspended from party activities. This is truly a bitter ending for a young party member./.
Nhat Lan
