The buyer of the three giant trees taken from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has been fined VND750 million (USD33,055) for violating regulations on forest protection.

Three giant trees are seized in Thua Thien Hue Province while being transported to Hanoi

Head of Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Department of Forest Protection, Nguyen Dai Anh Tuan on Thursday said that they had issued a fine of VND750 million (USD33,055) to Kieu Van Chuong, 32, from Hanoi's Thach That District on the same day for violating the regulations on the use, trading and transporting of forest products.

"The last giant banyan tree has been returned to Chuong after he paid the fine," Tuan said.

According to the official, the last and also the biggest banyan-tree has a diameter at its foot of 1.4 metres and height of 12 metres. It was taken from farmland of a family in Ea Dah Commune, Krong Nang District, Dak Lak Province. 

"However, Chuong failed to show proper legal documents relating to the tree," Tuan said.

Earlier, the department had returned two other trees to Chuong after he was able to show enough legal documents. The two trees were also bought from agricultural lands in Dak Lak Province, Tuan added.

Earlier several newspapers reported about the three giant trees being transported on the National Road 1 from Dak Lak Province without being stopped by authorities for violating traffic rules. 

After the news went viral on local media, the trucks were stopped by transport police in Thua Thien - Hue Province on March 30 and the Hai Son Transport Company was fined nearly VND82 million (USD3,613) for violating freight size regulations.

Dtinews