Widow cries because brother-in-law secretly chopped down coffee and pepper garden, reveals letter asking for help

On February 14, Dak Ta Ley Commune Police, Mang Yang District, Gia Lai Province investigated the destruction of a coffee, durian and pepper garden of a household in Nhon Tho Village, Dak Ta Ley Commune.

Ms. Giang Phuong Thanh (38 years old), the owner of the vandalized garden, said that on the morning of February 12, when she went to the garden, she discovered that many of her family's coffee, pepper and durian trees had been chopped down, cut down at the base. Immediately after that, she reported the incident to the Dak Ta Ley Commune Police for investigation.

Authorities counted and discovered 35 coffee trees that had been cut down, along with 4 durian trees and 200 pepper trees that were in harvest, also cut down and withered. While the authorities were investigating the incident, on the evening of February 13, thieves continued to sneak into the garden and cut down dozens more coffee and durian trees.

Ms. Thanh explained: "My family has no conflicts with anyone in the village. I don't understand why the criminals sneaked in and destroyed the coffee, durian, and pepper trees that were in harvest time. My family estimates the damage is about 300 million VND. I hope the authorities will soon find the criminals and strictly handle them according to the law."

Ms. Thanh added that after the authorities came to work, she thought no one would dare to cut down the tree again. However, taking advantage of the darkness, the thieves continued to cut down the tree a second time. The daring and reckless act made her worried about her family's life.

"My husband died early, I had to struggle to raise two children. After many years of saving and borrowing, I was able to buy this garden, losing nearly 400 million VND. Now the whole garden has been destroyed, I don't know how to pay off the debt and raise my children," Ms. Thanh sobbed.

On the afternoon of February 16, Mang Yang District Police, Gia Lai Province coordinated with Dak Ta Ley Commune Police to identify the culprit in the case of cutting down a coffee garden in Dak Ta Ley Commune, Mang Yang District. The police are temporarily detaining Dang Van Them (38 years old, residing in Nhon Tan Hamlet, Dak Ta Ley Commune) to investigate the act of destroying the property of Ms. Giang Phuong Thanh (38 years old, residing in Nhon Tho Hamlet, Dak Ta Ley Commune).

It is known that Them is Ms. Thanh's brother-in-law. At the police station, Them admitted to his crime. The suspect confessed that due to conflicts over money and love, he had the idea of cutting down Ms. Thanh's coffee, pepper, and durian gardens.

Ms. Thanh said that at the end of 2023, she and her two children came from Lam Dong province to Dak Ta Ley commune to buy land for farming. Due to difficult circumstances, she borrowed nearly 300 million VND from Mr. Them and his wife and 160 million VND from the bank to buy a piece of land of nearly 1 hectare.

In the last coffee crop, Ms. Thanh earned about 150 million VND. She gave some of this money to Mr. Them's family and paid the bank interest. Ms. Thanh is worried, because up to now, her family still owes Mr. Them and his wife about 200 million VND and 140 million VND to the bank. Meanwhile, the family's garden has been destroyed, there is nothing left to pay the debt.

According to Ms. Thanh, hundreds of coffee and pepper trees were cut down during the harvest season. People cut down the roots so hard that most of the trees died, and the coffee took several years to recover. During this time, she did not know how to feed her children, and was surrounded by debt.

Not only that, in early 2025, Ms. Thanh's house was continuously stoned by strangers, the pump was vandalized, and oil was stolen. Seeing the continuous incidents happening, threatening the spirit of the mother and daughter, Ms. Thanh invited the police to come down to check the scene to investigate the culprit.

Ms. Thanh shared: "The house is located far from residential areas, with few people, so I am very worried about the lives of mother and child. Since the incident, I have not been able to sleep. I have written letters to many people to leave my children and house behind. I am afraid that something bad will happen to this house."