THE Phnom Penh Municipal court has convicted seven men for the armed robbery of tourists

on the Phnom Penh - Siem reap passenger boat on March 22 this year.

Seven men boarded the boat as passengers, produced guns about an hour out from Phnom

Penh and demanded money and valuables from passengers.

They then forced the boat to the river bank where they decamped in a waiting car.

The municipal court tried four men on, Thursday July 20, who had been detained and

one other in absentia.

Chroeng Siha, a student at private university in Phnom Penh was found not guilty

and released by the court. The three other men present were convicted and imprisoned

- Prach Kunthol, 6 years jail; Kuoy Saran, 5 years jail; Choum Phal, 7 years

jail.

Emg Sopheatra who the court said was the ring leader was sentenced to 10 years jail

in his absence.

Police said they were still searching for three other robbers - Thon Bora, Som Cham

Roeun and Chen Praseu - who has also been tried and convicted in absentia and were

sentenced each to 8 years jail.