Former commune chairman sentenced for involvement in the loss of 400 hectares of forest in Dak Lak

After a day of trial, on the afternoon of June 14, the People's Court of Dak Lak province sentenced 14 defendants, including many former commune officials, involved in the destruction of more than 400 hectares of forest in Ya To Mot commune (Ea Sup district, Dak Lak).

Accordingly, the People's Court sentenced defendant Dang Cong Tao (former Chairman of the People's Committee of Ya To Mot commune) to 2 years in prison for the crime of abusing his position and power while performing official duties; defendant Hoang Ngoc Anh (former cadastral officer of Ya To Mot commune) to 2 years and 3 months in prison for the same crime.

Defendant Trinh Xuan Truyen (former forest ranger of Ya To Mot commune) was sentenced to 9 months in prison for the crime of lack of responsibility causing serious consequences. Defendant Vu Van Quang (former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ya To Mot commune) was sentenced to 6 months in prison for the crime of lack of responsibility causing serious consequences; 1 year in prison for the crime of taking advantage of position and power while performing official duties; the total sentence is 1 year and 6 months in prison.

The defendants at trial

For the crime of forest destruction, the defendants Y Hen Nie, Y Sy Út Byă, Y Si Liêm Rcăm, Y Ga Siu, and Y Jui Hra were sentenced to between 1 year and 6 months and 3 years in prison; the defendants Y Sinh Cô Siu, Y Phăm Nie, Y Kăm Sĩ Byă, Y Hồ Nie, and Y Din Siu were sentenced by the People's Court (all residing in Ea Sup District) to between 1 year and 1 year and 3 months in prison, suspended.

According to the case file, in April 2022, Dak Lak provincial authorities received information about a large-scale deforestation case in Ya To Mot commune, Ea Sup district. The Dak Lak Provincial Police Department and related functional units investigated the scene and recorded the destruction of more than 410 hectares of forest in this commune.

The People's Committee of Ea Sup District decided to reclaim the land from 4 households and hand it over to the People's Committee of Ya To Mot Commune for management. During the investigation, Dak Lak Provincial Police initiated a case and prosecuted 28 defendants related to 19 hectares out of more than 410 hectares of destroyed forest. In July 2023, the People's Court of Dak Lak Province sentenced these 28 defendants.

Dak Lak Provincial Police separated the case file to investigate and handle the remaining 392 hectares of destroyed forest. The investigation determined that Mr. Vu Van Quang and Mr. Trinh Xuan Truyen did not properly and fully perform their obligations as forest owners and local forest rangers. These two men were prosecuted and tried for irresponsibility causing serious consequences.

In addition, Mr. Vu Van Quang was also tried for abusing his position and power while performing official duties, for signing false timesheets for patrolling and protecting forests, causing a loss of nearly 20 million VND to the state budget.

Mr. Dang Cong Tao and Mr. Hoang Ngoc Anh forged and signed documents to pay for forest protection patrol support in 2021, causing a loss of more than 65 million VND to the state budget. Therefore, these two people were prosecuted for abusing their positions and powers while performing official duties.

Regarding the crime of forest destruction, Dak Lak Police determined that in February and April 2022, two groups of 10 people, including Y Hen Nie, Y Sy Út Byă, Y Si Liêm Rcăm, Y Ga Siu, Y Jui Hra, Y Sinh Cô Siu, Y Păm Nie, Y Kăm Sĩ Byă, Y Hồ Nie, Y Din Siu (hired workers) entered sub-area 205, Ya To Mot commune, using chainsaws and knives to destroy 5.5 hectares of forest.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuu-chu-tich-xa-lanh-an-do-lien-quan-vu-mat-400-ha-rung-o-dak-lak-185240614190900101.htm