A human trafficker was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday after he lured two Cambodian men and one woman to Malaysia in February, court officials said.

“[The court] also orders him to pay 4 million riel [$1,000] in compensation to each of the three victims,” presiding judge Kim Dany said.

According to the victim’s complaints, broker Um Pisey, 36, smuggled the three through Thailand to Malaysia, said Brigadier General Pol Pithey, head of the anti-human trafficking department.

Upon arrival, instead of working in a garment factory as promised, the two men were sold into work on fishing boats and the woman was sold into sex work.

In court, Pisey said that he believed he acted legally, as the three had passports, and claimed that he was promised by a Chinese-Malaysian businessman – who paid him a $300 commission per worker – that the trio would be employed in a garment factory.