The Court of Appeal yesterday delayed the final verdict in the case of disgraced former anti-drug czar Moek Dara and his lieutenant Chea Leng for a second time – this time by another 15 days, said defence lawyer Ray Bunthoeun.

“They said that they have not finished their work yet on the trial,” he said. “Moek Dara’s case has 7,500 pages to read.

Those documents fill three drawers.  It’s the biggest case after the [Khmer Rouge tribunal], and I’ve never seen that many documents.” In January 2012, Dara and Leng were sentenced to life in prison by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on dozens of counts of bribery and drug trafficking, while a third associate – Morn Doeun – was sentenced to 25 years in absentia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at [email protected]