On October 30, the People's Court of Area 4 in Dien Bien province sentenced 35-year-old Thao A Hong, a resident of Huoi Sang village in Na Hy commune, to two years in prison for violating fire prevention and firefighting regulations.
According to the case file, at about 1:45 p.m. on April 3, at Km6+300 on National Highway 4H in Na Sang commune, Thao A Hong used fire to collect honey but failed to ensure fire safety.
While he was collecting the honey, the flames caught dry vegetation and quickly spread to the surrounding forest.
Hong noticed the fire but did not try to put it out, report it to the authorities or remain at the scene.
At about 4 p.m. the same day, Hong again saw smoke rising from the forest above the roadside embankment, but he still did not report the incident and left.
The fire burned more than 8.3 hectares of production forest and caused damage of more than VND180 million.
Two people died and four others were injured while taking part in fighting the forest fire.
However, the investigation determined that Hong's violation of fire prevention and firefighting regulations had no direct causal relationship with the deaths of the two people or the injuries suffered by the four others.
Based on the collected materials and evidence, the police investigation agency charged Thao A Hong with violating fire prevention and firefighting regulations. On October 30, the People's Court of Area 4 in Dien Bien province held the first-instance trial and sentenced Hong to two years in prison.
The defendant must also pay more than VND180 million in compensation to Residential Group 1 in Na Sang commune.
Sources: Dân Trí
