Hanoi Police said they have determined the suspect who carved xa cu trees or African mahoganies (Khaya senegalensis) on Lang Road in Dong Da District.

The suspect has been identified as Doan Tham, who lives in Cau Giay District’s Trung Hoa Ward.

The 80-year-old man reportedly has a wife suffering from a skin disease that hasn’t been cured in many years.

Upon being told that the bark of this particular type of tree would be effective in treating his wife’s disease, Tham used a chopper knife and a hammer to carve the bark.

He told the police that each time he carved small squares on different trees so that it would not affect the trees’ growth.

He carved 3-5 trees each time, saying he did it just to help his wife.

The police have seized all items relating to the carving, including the knife and hammer.

The case is under investigation as police have not yet determined the extent of damage.

Earlier, local newspapers reported that chunks of bark were found to have been carved from 40 xa cu trees on Lang Road in Hanoi's Dong Da District last Tuesday.

Some botanists have said this could affect the trees’ ability to conserve water and nutritive substances and could kill them slowly. 

VNS