A pair of former two-star generals and their two accomplices will appear in court on Friday to appeal their drug-trafficking and illegal weapons possession convictions, an officer at the Court of Appeal said.

Former Oddar Meanchey provincial governor Lay Vireak, 58, and ex-Ministry of National Defence deputy commander Khuon Roeun, 61, were sentenced to 12 and 16 years in jail, respectively, last July.

Anti-drug police had arrested them the previous year after their car was found with nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine powder, two AK-47s and ammunition in Phnom Penh’s Po Sen Chey district.

Two accomplices – Chheang Chhunly, 25, and Sour Seila, 27 – who were travelling with them, also received jail terms of 12 and 10 years and fines of 25 and 20 million riel respectively.

Since their arrests in October 2011, the group has been detained at Prey Sar prison.

Vireak’s defence lawyer Pich Soriya told the Post he had new proof of his client’s innocence.

“To find justice for him, I have collected some new evidence,” he said. Vireak has long-maintained the drugs were planted in his car by police.