Hiring someone to cut down the forest to plant acacia trees, sentenced to 20 months in prison

(Baonghean.vn) - On June 16, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a criminal appeal trial for defendant Lo Van Thang (34 years old, residing in Chau Nga commune, Quy Chau district, Nghe An) for the crime of Forest Destruction.

Around the beginning of March 2016, Thang had the idea of ​​cutting down trees in the forest to convert to planting acacia trees on the forestry land of his father, Mr. Lo Van Xang. Said and done. Thang did not apply for a permit but arbitrarily went into the forest to build a hut and cut down the forest continuously from March 8 to 15, 2016.

During this time, Thang also hired 7 more people to cut down and destroy the forest, including: Mr. Hoang Van Lam, Ms. Vi Thi Lan, Ha Van Duc, Vi Thi Hai, Vi Thi Huong and Nguyen Thi Hong in the same hamlet with a salary of 100,000 VND/person/day.

Lo Van Thang at the trial. Photo: Khanh An

In addition, Thang also rented a chainsaw from Mr. Hoang Van Tham to cut down big trees in the forest area assigned to Mr. Lo Van Xang in Lien Minh village.

However, the forest that Thang allowed to be cut down was under the management of the Quy Chau District Forest Protection Department (this forest was assigned the right to use forestry land according to Decree No. 163/1999/ND-CP dated November 16, 1999 of the Government).

On March 15, 2016, the inter-sectoral working group of Quy Chau Forest Protection Department - Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Chau Nga Commune People's Committee inspected and discovered that Lo Van Thang was directly cutting down forests with an area of ​​up to 20,856 m2. Most of the forest area that Thang had cut down was completely burned.

In the valuation conclusion No. 11/KL-HDDG dated July 22, 2016 of the Criminal Proceedings Valuation Council of Quy Chau district, it was concluded that the total value of damaged forest products was 114,197,000 VND.

In February 2017, Quy Chau District People's Court held a first-instance trial and sentenced defendant Lo Van Thang to 36 months in prison.

After the first instance trial, on March 2, defendant Thang filed an appeal requesting the People's Court of Nghe An province to review the charges and request a reduced sentence and a suspended sentence.

At the trial, defendant Thang withdrew his appeal requesting review of the charges and kept the remaining appeal content, Mr. Xang withdrew part of his appeal.

The representative of the People's Procuracy and the appellate panel said that at the trial, the defendant Thang admitted to the crime, personally cutting down the forest and hiring others to do so, destroying a large area of ​​forest, violating the state's forest management order, and infringing on citizens' property. The crime was very serious and very dangerous to society and needed to be severely punished for general deterrence and prevention.

However, considering that the defendant confessed honestly, sincerely, truly repented and regretted his crime, the defendant had partially remedied the consequences, and had no criminal record, the sentence should be considered for a reduction.

Therefore, the appellate panel partially accepted the defendant's appeal, amended the first instance judgment, and reduced Lo Van Thang's sentence from 36 months in prison to 20 months in prison for forest destruction.

Khanh An