On February 14, the Criminal Police Department of Gia Lai Province Police coordinated with Mang Yang District Police and Dak Ta Ley Commune Police to investigate a property destruction case that occurred in Dak Ta Ley Commune. The victim was Ms. Giang Phuong Thanh (38 years old, residing in Nhon Tho Hamlet, Dak Ta Ley Commune).

According to Ms. Thanh, on the morning of February 12, when she visited the garden, she was shocked to discover that the garden had been completely destroyed. Through inventory, 35 coffee trees, 200 pepper pillars and 4 durian trees had been cut down. By February 14, about 100 more coffee and durian trees had been destroyed.

"I don't understand why they could be so cruel. I spent the whole year taking care of the land, waiting for the harvest, and now there's nothing left," Ms. Thanh choked.

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Ms. Thanh next to her 10-year-old garden that was in the harvesting stage and was vandalized by thieves. Photo: Tran Hoan

According to records at the scene, hundreds of coffee, pepper and durian trees in the flowering period were chopped off. Irrigation pumps were also smashed, and the house in the field where Ms. Thanh and her children lived was also stoned.

Ms. Thanh said that in 2023, she came from Lam Dong to Gia Lai to buy a garden of more than 1.1 hectares (about 1,100 coffee trees, mixed with pepper and durian) from Mr. LVB for nearly 400 million VND.

"My family consists of only my mother and I. I tried to build a garden to pay off my debt and raise my children, but I didn't expect it to be destroyed to this extent. I hope the authorities will soon find the culprit," Ms. Thanh shared in tears.

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139 coffee and durian trees and 200 pepper pillars were destroyed. Photo: Tran Hoan
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The saw marks are still very fresh. Photo: Tran Hoan

According to her, before the incident, she had been threatened by a person related to a money dispute. She provided information about the suspect to the police.

Dak Ta Ley Commune Police said that the authorities have inspected the scene, made a record and invited the people involved to give statements. The incident is being investigated and verified by the police.