Hà Nội Police said they have determined the suspect who carved xà cừ trees or African mahoganies (Khaya senegalensis) on Láng Road in Hà Nội’s Đống Đa District.

 
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Tree saboteur identified

February 13, 2017 - 19:00

Hà Nội Police said they have determined the suspect who carved xà cừ trees or African mahoganies (Khaya senegalensis) on Láng Road in Hà Nội’s Đống Đa District.

 
Some 40 xà cừ trees were discovered to have been carved on Láng Road in Hà Nội’s Đống Đa District last Tuesday. – Photo congly.vn
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội Police said they have determined the suspect who carved xà cừ trees or African mahoganies (Khaya senegalensis) on Láng Road in Hà Nội’s Đống Đa District.

The suspect has been identified as Đoàn Thám, who lives in Cầu Giấy District’s Trung Hòa 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, Thám 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, Vnexpress.net reported that chunks of bark were found to have been carved from 40 xà cừ trees on Láng Road in Hà Nội’s Đống Đa 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

 

 

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