Trial of 2 subjects who arbitrarily destroyed forests and 'broke land' managed by the forestry farm

In mid-March 2022, Lo Van Manh went to look for buffaloes in the production forest area under the management of Quy Hop Forestry Farm in Teo village, Chau Cuong commune, Quy Hop district, and discovered a flat land, so he had the idea.clearcuttingto grow crops, grow acacia.

Accordingly, Lo Van Manh hired Quang Van Cuong to help him clear trees, agreeing on a daily wage of 200,000 VND and Cuong agreed. Manh and Cuong used knives, machetes and chainsaws to clear and cut trees at Lot 14, Lot 18, 19, Block 7, Sub-area 295B, a production forest managed by Quy Hop Forestry Enterprise for 7 days.

Defendants Lo Van Manh and Quang Van Cuong at the trial. Photo: Phan Giang

On May 31, 2022, the Investigation Agency of Quy Hop District Police established a team to examine the scene at Lot 14, Lot 18, 19, Khoanh 7, Sub-area 295B, in Teo village, Chau Cuong commune, Quy Hop district. The investigation agency coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghe An province to inspect the scene of the illegally cut forest area in Chau Cuong commune: At Lot 14, Khoanh 7, the cut area was 6,362 m², there are 139 miscellaneous trees cut down such as chestnut, rang rang, tau muoi...; at Lot 18, 19, Block 7, the cut down area is 8,893 m2²There were 71 miscellaneous trees such as chestnut, canarium, and black oak... and 236 bamboo trees that were cut down. The total area in Lot 14, 18, 19, Block 7, Sub-area 295B, production forest cut down by Lot Van Manh and Quang Van Cuong was 15,255 m², property damage was 32,842,800 VND.

At the first instance trial, the defendants Manh and Cuong admitted all their crimes. Based on the provisions of the Penal Code, aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the People's Court of Quy Hop district sentenced Lo Van Manh and Quang Van Cuong each to 3 years in prison with a suspended sentence, probation period of 5 years for the crime of "Forest destruction" stipulated in Clause 2, Article 243 of the Penal Code.

Regarding civil liability, defendants Lo Van Manh and Quang Van Cuong are required to compensate Quy Hop Forestry Farm for damages in the amount of VND 32,842,800.