Local official disciplined for colluding with illegal loggers.

(Baonghean.vn) - Regarding the illegal logging incident in the headwater forest of Pieng Cooc village, Mai Son commune (Tuong Tuong district), a deputy police chief of the commune has been disciplined, and the commune chairman is also held responsible.

The Inspection Committee of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee has just announced its conclusion regarding signs of violations by Kha Van Moong (Deputy Police Chief of Mai Son Commune) and requested disciplinary action against this Party member for violating state laws on forest protection and development. Mr. Kha Van Moong is required to seriously review his actions and voluntarily accept disciplinary measures. At the same time, the Mai Son Commune Party Committee is requested to direct the review and consideration of disciplinary action against the Party member, and report the results to the District Party Committee's Inspection Committee before January 20th.

Announcement of the conclusion regarding the alleged violations by Mr. Kha Van Moong.

The Inspection Committee of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee also announced the conclusion of its investigation into alleged violations by Mr. Lo Van Quang (Chairman of the Mai Son Commune People's Committee). According to the investigation results, Mr. Quang violated regulations on forest management and protection, arbitrarily allowing subordinate officials to exploit timber for house construction without notifying superiors, and failing to decisively address the illegal logging situation in Pieng Cooc village.

The District Party Committee's Inspection Committee also requested that Mr. Quang seriously review his actions, clarify his personal responsibility in leading, directing, and managing the work, and propose disciplinary measures.

Notice of shortcomings and violations by Mr. Lo Van Quang

Earlier, on November 15th, a task force from the Environmental Police Department (Nghe An Provincial Police) caught three individuals red-handed using a makeshift winch to haul timber from the forest at Khe Béng, in the headwaters area of ​​Piêng Cọoc village, Mai Sơn commune (Tuong Duong district).

At the scene, the task force seized 26 planks of timber (each plank measuring 3.5m long, 1m wide, and 18cm thick), a winch, and a roll of iron cable. About 100m further into the forest, the task force discovered 10 more planks of timber lying in a stream bed and two tree stumps, each with a diameter of over 1m, that had been felled.

The three illegal loggers are La Bon Tuong (born in 1984), residing in Son Ha village, Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong district; Lu Van Hung (born in 1974) and Lo Van Thuy (born in 1989), both residing in Na Kha village, Mai Son commune, Tuong Duong district. At the investigative agency, all three suspects confessed that the timber belonged to Kha Van Moong, currently the deputy police chief of Mai Son commune.

Three suspects were arrested at the scene (Photo courtesy).

It is known that nearly a month prior, a joint inspection team from the district and commune conducted an inspection in the forest of Piêng Cọoc village, discovering 60 planks of timber that had been cut down by illegal loggers. However, the team only drew up a report, numbered the planks, and left without confiscating and handing over the large quantity of timber to the relevant authorities. As a result, all the timber "disappeared" from the scene, even though the area is only 5-7 km from the commune center and the Mai Sơn Border Guard Post.

Currently, the authorities are continuing to expand their investigation to clarify the matter.

Wang Yun