In the Mykolaiv region, three men were cutting down an oak, an acacia and a honey locust for sale
Damage to the environment exceeded 600 thousand hryvnias
In the Mykolaiv region, three men illegally cut down trees of various species in the protective shelterbelts of the Kostyantynivska and Sukhoelanetska communities of Mykolaiv District in order to sell the timber afterwards. Damage to the environment exceeded UAH 600,000.
Investigators and operatives of the Mykolaiv District Police Department uncovered and stopped the criminal activity in May. According to the investigation, a 33-year-old resident of Mykolaiv offered his acquaintances, aged 37 and 41, to illegally cut down forest plantations.
The men selected logging sites with regard to the tree species. They felled honey locust, acacia and oak, after which they transported the timber by vehicle for further sale.
During the actual cutting, police detained the suspects in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and notified them of suspicion. At the scene, law enforcement officers seized timber, vehicles and other material evidence.
According to experts, the illegal activity caused damage to the environment totaling more than UAH 600,000.
Investigators, under the procedural guidance of the Mykolaiv District Prosecutor’s Office, completed the pretrial investigation. The indictment was sent to the prosecutor’s office, which forwarded it to the court for substantive consideration.
The suspects are charged with criminal offenses under parts 2 and 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — illegal felling of trees in protective forest plantations that caused significant harm and severe consequences, committed repeatedly and by a group by prior conspiracy. For this they face up to 7 years imprisonment.
The men’s fate will be decided by the court. Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a guilty verdict of the court.
Source: Mykolaiv Regional Police.
