Trial of 12 suspects in the case of cutting down three ancient sưa trees
On June 5, the People's Court of Bo Trach district (Quang Binh province) opened a trial of 12 suspects in the case of cutting down three ancient Dalbergia tomentosa trees in the heart of the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
The subjects at court. (Photo: Manh Thanh/Vietnam+)
The 12 subjects include Hoang Hanh, Nguyen Van Minh, Le Van Tien, Nguyen The Anh, Truong Van Tinh, Hoang Van Thanh, Pham Xuan Thang, Le Khanh, Le Van Dien, Thai Xuan Tiem, residing in Phuc Trach commune, Nguyen Si Sau, Nguyen Van Thong, residing in Xuan Trach, Bo Trach district.
According to the investigation conclusion and indictment at the trial, from April 19, 2012 to April 21, 2012, the above subjects secretly entered the Hung Tri area, belonging to the strictly protected subdivision of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to cut down 3 rosewood trees (also known as golden rosewood) belonging to group 1A, worth more than 70 billion VND. In the process of cutting down rosewood, the subjects also caused damage to more than 700 square meters of forest and many other trees with a volume of nearly 20 cubic meters...
The illegal exploitation of the 12 subjects above was determined to be particularly serious. The Trial Council of the People's Court of Bo Trach district decided to sentence Nguyen Van Minh and Hoang Hanh each to 30 months in prison; Le Van Tien, Nguyen The Anh, Truong Van Tinh, Hoang Van Thanh, Pham Xuan Thang, Le Khanh, Thai Xuan Tiem, each to 27 months in prison; Le Van Dien, Nguyen Si Sau, Nguyen Van Thong, each to 24 months in prison.
Regarding civil liability, the Trial Council decided to force 12 defendants to compensate for damages and supplement the State budget with over 70 billion VND, of which 9 subjects must pay up to over 6 billion VND./.
According to (TTXVN) - LT
