On March 28.3, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department announced that it had completed the investigation of the case of illegal sand mining on Can Gio beach and transferred the file to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy to propose prosecuting 24 defendants for the following crimes: violating regulations on resource exploitation; give bribes; bribery broker; money laundering; taking advantage of position and power while performing official duties; Consuming property obtained by someone else's crime; fraudulent appropriation of assets. The 3 people involved in this case, being investigated by Ho Chi Minh City Police in an independent case, will conclude and recommend prosecution later.
Illegal sand dredging ship detained by Ho Chi Minh City Police
According to Ho Chi Minh City Police, at about 23:45 p.m. on May 5.5.2022, 12, Crew II (Traffic Police Department - Ministry of Public Security) arrested 3 sand dredgers in the Con Ngua area (located on Can Gio sea). At the same time, Fleet II captured XNUMX barges anchored at the Vam Tuan River confluence area (Can Giuoc District, Long An Province) that were filled with sand. Afterwards, Crew II handed over documents and exhibits to Ho Chi Minh City Police for investigation and handling according to their authority.
"Octopus" ships anchored and prepared to illegally suck sand on Can Gio sea
Immediately after receiving the file, Ho Chi Minh City Police prosecuted the case of "violating regulations on resource exploitation", prosecuting the defendants Truong Van Chinh (39 years old, from Lam Dong), Truong Van Thang. (39 years old, from Hai Duong) and Vu Ngoc Dai (48 years old, from Binh Phuoc).
Accordingly, from February to May 2, the 5.2022 defendants mentioned above operated 3 "octopus" boats that illegally sucked sand in the Can Gio sea area. Illegal sand sucking operation time is from 9:18 p.m. to 4:XNUMX a.m. the next morning. Sand is sucked up from the sea by ships, then transported close to shore to be transferred to barges for consumption.
The "octopus" ship is illegally sucking sand on Can Gio beach
Expanding the investigation of the case, Ho Chi Minh City Police continued to prosecute and arrest 15 defendants for violating regulations on resource exploitation; 1 defendant was charged with consuming criminal property; 2 defendants charged with abusing position and power while performing official duties; 2 defendants charged with bribery; 1 defendant charged with bribery brokerage; 1 defendant charged with fraudulent appropriation of property; 2 defendants charged with money laundering.
In this case, defendant Bui Van Song (Permanent Deputy Secretary of Minh Hoa Commune, Kinh Mon Town, Hai Duong Province) is the husband of Ms. Truong Thi Minh (owner of a sand mining ship that is evidence of the case). instructed Pham Thi Hoa (Vice Chairwoman of Minh Hoa Commune People's Committee) to sign authorization letters (authorization signed after the time the fishing vessels were arrested) to help the defendants in the case legalize their documents. Please return the sand dredger.
As a result of the investigation, Ho Chi Minh City Police prosecuted Bui Van Song and Pham Thi Hoa for abusing their positions and powers while performing official duties.
At the end of October 10.2017, Newspaper Youth published a series of long-term investigative articles Massively gutting Can Gio beach. The series of articles reflects about 50 "octopus" ships bearing numbers from northern provinces day and night illegally mining sand on Can Gio sea, transporting it to shore for consumption. Immediately afterwards, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requested relevant units to investigate and handle the case.
Years later, Newspaper Youth continues to repeatedly reflect the situation of illegal sand mining on Can Gio sea.
