Prosecution and temporary detention of 2 forest rangers

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of November 18, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Anh Tuan - Deputy Head of the Police Department for Investigation of Crimes on Economic Management and Positions (PC46) of Nghe An Provincial Police said: the unit has prosecuted and temporarily detained for 3 months Mr. Nguyen Huu Duong (Deputy Head of the Forest Ranger Department of Dien Chau District) and Mr. Ho Xuan Tuc (legal officer of the Forest Ranger Department of Dien Chau District) for the act of Abusing position and power while performing official duties according to Article 281 of the Penal Code.matter

On the same day, search warrants were executed at the two suspects' workplaces and homes.

Previously, in mid-October 2015, PC 46 received a complaint from Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham (born in 1974), residing in Da Teh district (Lam Dong), stating that on May 12, 2015, she bought 500 kg of rattan fruit in Kien Giang and brought it to Quang Ninh for sale. On May 19, 2015, because the shipment could not be sold, Ms. Tham hired a car from Mr. Nguyen Van Quan to transport the goods back to the South, and when she arrived at Dien Chau district (Nghe An), she was inspected and detained by forest rangers.

Reading the arrest warrant for Mr. Nguyen Huu Duong - Deputy Head of Dien Chau Forest Protection Department.

At the headquarters of the Dien Chau District Forest Protection Department, Mr. Ho Xuan Tuc (legal officer) said that Ms. Tham's goods were temporarily detained because she presented invalid invoices and asked to write a report on the incident. Mr. Tuc threatened to confiscate all the goods and Ms. Tham would have to pay a fine of 120 million VND. The legal officer "suggested" that if she paid a bribe of 20 million VND, only 300 kg of goods would be confiscated and a fine of 15 million VND. Ms. Tham then agreed to follow Mr. Tuc's suggestion.

On October 19, PC 46 Department of Nghe An Province Police initiated the case. After nearly a month of collecting evidence, on November 18, the unit issued a decision to prosecute and temporarily detain Mr. Duong and Mr. Tuc. "Mr. Nguyen Huu Duong was identified as an accomplice of Mr. Ho Xuan Tuc in this case," said Lieutenant Colonel Pham Anh Tuan.

According to the investigation agency, Mr. Nguyen Huu Duong (born in 1964) lives in Hung Phuc ward. Mr. Duong joined the forestry industry in 1987. Mr. Ho Xuan Tuc (born in 1962) lives in Cau Giat town, Quynh Luu district, joined the forestry industry in 2002.

Phuong Nguyen