Prosecution of forest ranger chief for assisting illegal timber boss
The head of the forest ranger department signed dozens of illegal forest product lists for illegal timber boss Phuong Rau and received hundreds of millions of dong in kickbacks and many logs of wood.
Speaking to reporters on the morning of August 28, a leader of the Dak Nong Provincial People's Procuracy confirmed that they had approved the decision to prosecute and issue a temporary detention order for Mr. Bui Van Khang (born in 1964, Head of the Forest Protection Department of Cu M'gar District, Dak Lak Province) to continue investigating the act of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties". "The police agency is continuing to expand the investigation to clarify this case" - the leader added.
Illegal logging campPhoenix "beard"near Border Guard Station.
Accordingly, in the process of expanding the investigation into the case of illegal timber kingpin Phan Huu Phuong (aka Phuong "beard", residing in Cu Jut district, Dak Nong province), the Dak Nong Provincial Police Department determined that Mr. Khang, during his time as the Head of the Forest Protection Department of Buon Don district (Dak Lak province), was the person who confirmed the transportation of timber for Thao Truc Company and Phuong "beard" personally. In particular, Mr. Khang signed to confirm many illegal forest product inventories during the period from April 2017 to September 2017 and received "kickbacks" of many logs of timber.
After that, Mr. Khang directed some subordinates to hammer additional forest rangers according to the report of Thao Truc Company but did not check and supervise the results. According to Mr. Khang's statement, the purpose of hammering additional dozens of logs (the number without records) was to compensate Mr. Khang for many logs previously. Mr. Khang transferred this amount of wood to some other people.
In addition, after accepting the forest hammer for Thao Truc Company and Mr. Phuong personally, this company also "compensated" Mr. Khang with hundreds of millions of dong. Mr. Khang also stated that this amount was divided among a number of related officials.
Illegal timber of tycoon Phuong "beard" was seized.
Previously, on April 27, forces under the Ministry of Public Security seized two trucks carrying illegal timber belonging to tycoon Phuong "beard". At the same time, they raided and seized hundreds of cubic meters of illegal timber at many workshops in Cu Jut district and the timber exploitation camp of this tycoon in the border area, next to Border Guard Station 747 (Dak Lak Provincial Border Guard Command). The police agency prosecuted and issued temporary detention orders for 7 defendants, including 2 fugitives who are wanted.
After that, the Dak Nong province's Department of Agriculture disciplined a series of officials for "not seeing" Phuong "beard's" illegal timber for a long time and continued to wait for the police investigation results to see if there were signs of protection or assistance.
In Dak Lak, the Dak Lak Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Commission is considering disciplinary action against many leaders and former leaders of the Dak Lak Provincial Border Guard Command. The Dak Lak Provincial Border Guard Command has also decided to dismiss and transfer many leaders of Border Guard Stations 747 and 749, which are located near the illegal logging camp of Phuong "beard".
Regarding the case, the family of Mr. Y Sy H'Đơk, Head of the Dak Lak Provincial Forest Protection Department, voluntarily handed over 8m3 of ca chit wood (group 3) to the police. According to Mr. Y Sy H'Đơk, this amount of wood was previously purchased by his wife with Mr. Khang's help, with the forest protection hammer mark but without any invoice or document.