Police in the central province of Thanh Hoa captured a forest protection official on Friday for accepting a bribe of VND100 million (roughly US$4,700) from the owner of a wood shipment.

The arrestee is 35-year-old Le Duc Hai, head of a forest protection division under the management of the Thanh Hoa Forest Ranger Department.

According to reliable sources, on August 1, a patrol team led by Hai stopped a suspicious-looking truck with the number plate 37C-060.12 traveling on the south to north route for a check.

The forest protection officials found 22m² of Dalbergia oliveri and some Pterocarpus macrocarpus, both of which are precious wood, on the vehicle.

Since the driver failed to show documents proving the legal origin of the shipment, the forest protection officials took it to their station for further investigation. 

After talking with the truck driver and the shipment’s owner, Hai demanded VND100 million from the owner in return for the release of the wood.  

When Hai was receiving the cash, local police stormed into the station and caught him in the act. The forest protection division chief dashed upstairs and threw the money in an effort to destroy evidence.

Eventually, he was captured and is facing charges of “taking bribes.”

Le The Long, head of the provincial Forest Ranger Department, said the local government will strictly punish those involved in this case in accordance with the law and regulations.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!