The general director of Thuong Thao Joint Stock Company, Le Van Thiet, was placed under temporary detention for investigation into deforestation activities, the police of central Binh Dinh Province said.

As many as 61ha of natural forest in An Lao District was totally destroyed. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

Thiet will remain in custody for four months.

Following initial investigation, the police identified Thiet as the mastermind behind the illegal cutting down of 61ha of natural forest in An Lao District.

In earlier September, the provincial authority discovered 61ha of forest had been destroyed, of which 23ha was protective forest.

Ten days later, the authority cracked down on a wooden processing plant under the Thuong Thao Joint Stock Company possessing 27cu.m of wood and 28 burnt trees, for which the plant did not have any documents proving the origin of the wood.

The wood was, therefore, seized for investigation purposes.

Investigation showed that the company had hired many workers to transport machines to cut down trees in the forest to obtain wood.

Late last month, the provincial police arrested two people -- Nguyen Van Ri and Phan De -- for the crime of destroying forests.

Besides this, many forest rangers in An Lao District were penalised for lax management. 

VNS