Prosecuted 5 subjects for cutting down 3 ancient sa mu trees

(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Dang Van Hieu - Deputy Head of Que Phong District Police said: On July 9, Que Phong District Police prosecuted and temporarily detained 5 subjects who cut down ancient sa mu trees for violating regulations on forest protection and exploitation.

The identities of the five prosecuted subjects include: Luong Van Tam (born in 1975), Vi Van Hoai (born in 1979), Lu Van Duong (born in 1976), Vi Van Binh (born in 1994), all residing in Thong Thu commune (Que Phong district) and Cao Minh Quyet (born in 1986), residing in Chau Cuong commune, Quy Hop district.

Receiving a report about a group of illegal loggers exploiting wood in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, an interdisciplinary task force including Que Phong District Police, Forest Rangers, Reserve officials, the army and local authorities organized a patrol.

At noon on July 3, 2015, in area 11, sub-area 59, forest area of ​​Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, 1,020m from the Vietnam - Laos border, the working group caught 5 subjects Luong Van Tam, Vi Van Hoai, Lu Van Duong, Vi Van Binh and Cao Minh Quyet using chainsaws to exploit 3 red sa mu trees (scientific name is Sa moc dau, rare group 2A). Of the 3 exploited trees, 2 have fallen and are being cut into panels, the 3rd tree is being cut but has not fallen, all are sa mu trees hundreds of years old.

Two cypress trees were cut down and sawn into slabs.

Also according to Mr. Dang Van Hieu - Deputy Chief of Que Phong District Police: All 5 subjects were controlled and arrested red-handed on the spot. The seized evidence was 1 chainsaw, 1 saw blade, 1 chain block, 1 winch.

The three red cypress trees that the loggers exploited had a diameter of 2.5 - 2.7m and a length of 35 - 40m. It is estimated that the total volume of wood from the three cypress trees exploited by the loggers was over 200 m3.³.

At the investigation agency, all 5 subjects admitted to their crimes and stated that if they succeeded in cutting down these 3 sa mu trees, they would use a winch to pull them across the border and sell them to a dealer in Laos for about 8 million VND/m.³.

After collecting documents, on July 9, 2015, Que Phong District Police issued a decision to prosecute the case and prosecute the above-mentioned group of illegal loggers for the crime of "Violating regulations on forest protection and exploitation"./.

Phuong Nguyen