Subject Hoang Tuan Hai at the trial today

After the questioning process, the representative of Nha Trang City People's Procuracy proposed to return records and additional investigations to: (1) consider investigating criminal liability for Hoang Tuan Hai for the act of possession. for trading for a huge number of mussel shells and (2) re-assessing the seriousness of the violation with about 7000 individuals of Hoang Tuan Hai's sea turtles for review and investigation. Penal liability is defined in Clause 2, Article 190 of the 1999 Penal Code (Amended, supplemented 2009).

Agreeing with the opinion of the People's Procuracy in Nha Trang City, emphasizing the particularly large number of material evidences of the case as well as the serious impact that Hoang Tuan Hai's behavior has caused on biodiversity, the ecological environment as well as the image of the country in the conservation of endangered precious and rare animals prioritized for protection, after the deliberation, the Trial Council decided to return the files for additional investigation figs.

Earlier, in late November and December 2014, authorities suddenly raided six warehouses in Nha Trang after receiving information from the Natural Education Center (ENV) provided about the collection line, Illegally creating and trading sea turtles in this city. The case has stirred domestic and international public opinion by a large number of sea turtle bodies and parts of sea turtles, an estimated 7,000 individuals were discovered. Most of these are hawksbill, a critically endangered species of turtle that is strictly protected by law but is often illegally exploited to decorate or manipulate fine art articles such as combs, jewels, frames. glasses.

The brothers Hoang Tuan Hai and Hoang Minh Cuong are said to lead a line that specializes in purchasing large quantities of sea turtles from fishermen, processing them into fine art products and smuggling them to China. However, after the investigation process, the authorities have insufficient evidence to prove the crimes of Hoang Minh Cuong. Therefore, only Hai was brought to trial in today's trial.

Attending and monitoring the trial in Nha Trang, Ms. Bui Thi Ha, Deputy Director of ENV said: “ENV respects the decision to return additional investigation files of the People's Court of Nha Trang City, especially when deciding This decision shows the great determination of the authorities in Nha Trang city in strictly handling, contributing to deterrence and prevention of wildlife crimes (wildlife). ENV is looking forward to a harsh sentence, commensurate with the seriousness of Hoang Tuan Hai's behavior in the near future. ENV also hopes that the true mastermind of this sea turtle hunting, manipulating and trading line will be brought to light and severely punished. ”

Evolution of the incident: