The verdict for a woman sentenced to three years in prison on charges of drug trafficking was upheld yesterday during an appeal hearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Mao Mach, 41, had previously been convicted in absentia and fined four million riel (US$1,000) after going into hiding in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district.

Police later found her in the Boeng Tumpon commune and she was jailed in February last year. 

The judge for the trial, You Bunna, said Mao Mach was arrested and charged based on the interrogation of Van Chanthou, who was arrested in 2010 for drug trafficking.

The judge said that Van Chanthou claimed he had purchased two packages of methamphetamines from Mao Mach.

However, the suspect maintained her innocence.

 “I am innocent, but I was convicted by the court to three years in jail,” she said yesterday after the trial.

Mao Mach’s neighbour, Yam Chantheth, also claimed that police had arrested the wrong person.