A circus performer caught in a police sting operation in July was sentenced to two years in prison for drug dealing yesterday along with two accomplices.

Meach Chamroeun, known by his stage name of Jam, and his two friends were arrested on June 21 for trying to sell 102 grams of methamphetamine to two undercover police officers.

Kor Vandy, presiding judge of Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said yesterday that the three convicts will only serve six months behind bars.

“The court decided to convict them to two years each, but the terms of their punishment will be only six months in prison,” he said.

Chamroeun was invited to perform by a female undercover officer known to the court as “Mom”, but when he arrived with his friends, she introduced him to two male colleagues who pretended to buy the drugs before making the arrests.

“This was the first time that I have committed drug trafficking,” Chamroeun said. “And I was arrested because I was cheated by police.”