Official announcement: Toll collectors have been suspended from work, and tourism bloggers have been blocked while driving and charged 500 yuan
On August 23rd, tourism blogger "Lao La Diary" released a video stating that he was previously stopped at a forest fire prevention point and charged 500 yuan while driving in Li County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Video Editing Deng Bo
On the 24th, Jimu News learned from blogger Mr. Chen that the Sichuan West State owned Forest Protection Bureau of Aba Prefecture sent him an apology letter, stating that the toll collector was Yue, a staff member on duty at the bureau's forest fire inspection station. He has now stopped working and received administrative penalties, and the relevant funds collected have been ordered to be immediately refunded.
On the early morning of August 24th, the Party Committee and People's Government of Lixian County issued a notice on this matter:
On the evening of August 23, 2023, at 9:00 pm, I discovered a video circulating online saying "I have been searching for a free niche secret realm for everyone, but I didn't expect to be blocked and charged a fee of 10-20 yuan. If I ask for 500 yuan, is there any way out?". The Party Committee and Government of Lixian County attach great importance to it and immediately organize a joint investigation team consisting of public security, forestry and grass, cultural and tourism, comprehensive law enforcement, market supervision and other departments to conduct in-depth investigations in the incident area.
After investigation, it was found that the information reported by netizens is true. The toll checkpoint for blocking the road is the Xiaomuchanggou Forest and Grassland Fire Inspection Point of the 304 Forest Farm of the Western Sichuan State owned Forestry Protection Bureau in Aba Prefecture. The toll collector is Yue 31, an employee of the 304 Forest Farm of the Western Sichuan State owned Forestry Protection Bureau. The Party Committee and County Government of Lixian County immediately urged the Sichuan West State owned Forestry Protection Bureau of Aba Prefecture to take serious measures against the relevant parties and forest farm leaders involved. At present, the State owned Forestry Protection Bureau in western Sichuan has given Yue 31 the punishment of suspending all work and recording administrative demerits. Song X, the person in charge of the 304 forest farm, has been given a admonition speech, made a profound review to the bureau's party committee, and criticized globally.
At the same time, the county joint investigation team will continue to conduct in-depth investigations into this matter. If other violations and laws are found, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law and regulations, and will not be tolerated.
The Communist Party of China Lixian County Committee Lixian County People's Government
August 24, 2023
According to previous reports from Jimu News, Mr. Chen told Jimu News reporters that on August 13th, he drove from Miyaro Scenic Area in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan to Mengtun River. When leaving the Mengtun River Forest fire prevention point, he noticed that the vehicle ahead was talking to the personnel at the fire prevention point, seemingly wanting to collect money. Mr. Chen noticed something was wrong and flipped the car's driving recorder over to the driver's window, capturing the process of being charged for the following expenses.
Fire prevention personnel claim fees
In the video released by Mr. Chen, a person closed their right five fingers and gestured for 500 yuan. Mr. Chen asked what the cost was, but the person did not respond directly. Instead, they said, "Otherwise, we'll return.". Mr. Chen said that it was already late at that time and it would take several hours to return on the mountain road. As an outsider, he transferred 500 yuan to go there.
Mr. Chen posted the video online on August 23rd. That evening, a person claiming to be the person who paid the fee at the time contacted him in the background, apologized to him, and hoped to withdraw the video, and also sent three red envelopes. However, Mr. Chen did not receive the red envelope sent by the other party, and he hopes to handle it seriously.
On the 24th, multiple departments including the Li County Cultural and Tourism Bureau told Jimu News reporters that a joint investigation team had been established in the local area to intervene and actively respond to social concerns.
On the afternoon of the 24th, Jimu News learned from Mr. Chen that the Sichuan West State owned Forest Protection Bureau of Aba Prefecture sent him an apology letter that day.
Apology letter sent by Chuanxi State owned Forest to Mr. Chen
In the apology letter, it was stated that upon receiving the feedback, the bureau immediately established an investigation team to investigate. After investigation, Mr. Chen confirmed that the situation was true. Mr. Yue, a staff member on duty at the forest fire inspection station of the bureau, violated the work discipline and regulations of the forest fire inspection station and illegally collected fees.
In the apology letter, it was also stated that after research by the Party Committee and administration of the bureau, it was decided: firstly, to stop all work of Yue, cooperate with the investigation, order him to study and reflect, refund the fees collected in violation of regulations, and impose administrative penalties; The second issue is that Song, the main person in charge of 304 Forest Farm, neglected his duty in managing and educating employees, and gave him a admonitory speech, ordering him to make a profound reflection on the bureau's party committee and administration.
