This is a newly established pepper plantation that his family bought with a bank loan of over 2.2 billion VND at the end of 2025. According to Mr. Dung, he has never had any conflicts or disagreements with anyone in his life, but he doesn't understand why his pepper plantation was so ruthlessly destroyed by vandals. Currently, the commune police force has inspected the scene and established a file to serve the investigation and clarify the incident.

Illustration photo: thuvienphapluat.vn

From a legal perspective, the act of cutting down the pepper garden is not simply an impulsive act but shows signs of the crime of destruction or intentional damage to property. Specifically, according to point d, clause 1, Article 178 of the current Penal Code, whoever destroys or intentionally damages another person's property worth from 2,000,000 VND to less than 50,000,000 VND, or less than 2,000,000 VND but "the property is the main means of livelihood for the victim and their family," shall be fined from 10,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND, sentenced to non-custodial correctional labor for up to 3 years, or imprisoned from 6 months to 3 years. In cases causing greater damage, the sentence can be up to 20 years in prison. The estimated damage to Mr. Dung's family is over 100 million VND. If the investigating agency determines that the perpetrator intentionally committed the act, in addition to a prison sentence of 2-7 years (clause 2, Article 178), the perpetrator must also compensate for all economic losses, including initial costs. investment, lost output, and related losses.

The destruction of coffee, durian, and pepper crops has been quite common in recent years in provinces such as Dak Lak , Gia Lai, and Lam Dong. These incidents not only cause significant economic losses for farmers but also reveal a decline in the behavior of some people who choose to destroy property to resolve personal conflicts and jealousy. A crucial point is that many people in rural areas still believe that cutting down a few plants, destroying a few pepper vines, or spraying pesticides to kill trees is merely a form of "intimidation" and should only be dealt with internally, not as serious as theft or robbery. They forget that each pepper vine and each coffee plant is not just property but also the sweat, capital, and livelihood of a family. Such destruction not only causes immediate damage but also leaves the victim's family struggling for many subsequent seasons, pushing them into debt and destitution.

All conflicts can be resolved through the law, mediation, or through the authorities; under no circumstances should you resort to destroying property. A moment of anger and lack of self-control can turn an ordinary person into a suspect or defendant, costing them money, honor, and their future. The law is strict, but above all, society needs the respect for the law in every citizen. When people know how to restrain themselves and respect the property and hard work of others, then the forests and fields will truly be peaceful places where farmers can work and produce with peace of mind.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phap-luat/pho-bien-giao-duc-phap-luat/co-y-pha-hoai-cay-trong-co-the-bi-xu-ly-hinh-su-1039594