PHNOM Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced two Cambodian men – one of them a police officer – to 10 years in prison after convicting them on drug smuggling charges.

Presiding Judge Kor Vandy, who handed down the verdict, also ordered the pair to pay 30 million riels (US$7,142) each in fines to the state.

Lut Serey Both, 34, a police officer from Daun Penh district, and his accomplice, 39-year-old Thae Seth, were caught in possession of 498 grams of crystal methamphetamine when they were arrested in January in Daun Penh’s Boeung Raing commune. Their arrests led to the apprehension of a third man, 38-year-old Sim Bunsan, who was convicted yesterday of operating as a middleman and sentenced to three years’ jail.

Following yesterday’s hearing, Chea Meth, the deputy court prosecutor in charge of the case, applauded the verdict.

“The court’s decision was just and legal in accordance with the law, finding the three men guilty on charges of drug smuggling under Article 33 of the anti-drug trafficking law,” he said.

The three men appeared at court yesterday without defence counsel.