7 suspects detained for stealing ancient tree

Seven suspects have been detained by police in Sichuan province for allegedly stealing an ancient tree with a history of 830 years.

The police allege the suspects dug up a crape myrtle in Hanwang township, Mianzhu, on the night of Oct 10, 2013, and sold it to a man in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, for 290,000 yuan ($46,670), Western China Metropolis Daily reported.

The tree was then resold twice for a final price of 880,000 yuan, the report said.

The tree was transported back to Hanwang township on Wednesday and the local government has allocated 40,000 yuan to replant and maintain the tree.

A large number of local residents fired crackers to celebrate the return of the ancient tree as many deem it a treasure of the township, the report said.