ĐẮK NÔNG — The People’s Procuracy of Đắk Nông Province has begun criminal proceedings against Bùi Văn Khang for abusing position and power while performing duties in the case relating to Phan Hữu Phượng (also known as Moustache Phượng). 

Khang, 54, who resides in Tân An Ward in Đắk Lắk Province’s Buôn Ma Thuột City, was prosecuted and put into temporary detention on Tuesday in line with Article 365 of the 2015 Penal Code, said Nguyễn Văn Cường, director of Đắk Nông Province’s People’s Procuracy.

While expanding the probe of the large-scale illegal logging operation headed by Phượng in Cư Jút District, Đắk Nông Province, investigators determined that Khang, head of the Cư M’gar District’s forest protection division and head of Buôn Đôn District in 2008-17 period, had certified timber transportation between Thảo Trúc Company and Phượng from April to September last year, though the transactions were not in line with current regulations.

During this time, Khang received over 10cu.m of timber from Thảo Trúc Company in return for turning a blind eye to the company’s illegal wood transportation. He sold the timber and also received hundreds of millions of đồng from the company — money he later shared with related officials.

As reported by Vietnam News Agency, on April 27, police and border guard officers in Đắk Nông found 40.2cu.m. of timber being carried away in two trucks at about 3:40am from the Yok Đôn National Park on the border of Đắk Nông and Đắk Lắk provinces.

The two truck drivers - Trần Lưu Lân and Hồ Trọng Dũng - failed to present legitimate documents specifying the origin of the timber. They told the police that the timber was being taken to a workshop of Long Vũ Company in Cư Jút District specialising in the production of wooden products. The company is owned by Phan Hữu Phượng, a resident of EaT’ling Town.

Investigators searched five locations where the illicit ring stored their timber and confiscated nearly 210cu.m of wood as well as multiple trucks, cars, tractors and chainsaws.

Earlier in May, Đắk Nông Police initiated legal proceedings against seven members involved in the large-scale illegal logging operation headed by Phượng.

The suspects were charged with violating regulations on the exploitation, protection and management of forest products under Article 232 of the Penal Code. — VNS