VietNamNet Bridge – Dak Glong District People’s Court in Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on Thursday sentenced a former police major to nine months in prison for the crime of forest destruction.

Former Major Pham Xuan Sang at the court in Dak Nong Province. – Photo dantri.com.vn

Pham Xuan Sang, 44, was also head of the anti-terrorism unit of the provincial Police Department.

Defendant Tran Van Tuan, 44, a resident of Gia Nghia Township was also sentenced to 13 months in prison for forest destruction and fraudulent misappropriation of property.

According to the indictment, in early 2015, Sang suggested Tuan buy 3ha of land in Dak Ha Commune managed by the People’s Committee of Dak Glong District for VND180 million (US$8,000).

But each had to buy half of the land because Tuan did not have enough money.

Tuan mortgaged his home ownership document and then gave Sang VND161 million to buy the land.

After that, they hired five local residents to cut down trees on the land for two months.

After a short time, Tuan was reluctant to continue and asked Sang to return the money he gave Sang before because he was afraid rangers would discover their illegal work.

By the end of May 2016, Sang returned to Tuan VND100 million. But all of them were arrested later.

On March 2017, local authorities determined that Tuan and Sang destroyed more than 8,400sq.m of forest land.

Tuan was also convicted of cheating other people to buy land.

Source: VNS