A Chinese national pleaded guilty to drug-trafficking charges yesterday as his court proceedings began at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Presiding judge Sin Visal said 33-year-old Chhin Ming was arrested on May 1 after he was arrested by police and found to be in possession of five packages of methamphetamine at the NagaWorld Casino, in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district.  

“He was arrested by police while he was distributing methamphetamine to other Chinese nationals who were gamblers at NagaWorld,” the judge said.

Chhin Ming said he entered the Kingdom in 2008, but claimed he was only distributing drugs at NagaWorld for just over six months before he was arrested.

“The reason why I decided to sell drugs at NagaWorld is because of the amount of money I lost gambling. I sold it [methamphetamine] to make money to buy food and gamble,” Chhin Ming told the court yesterday.

“I know my mistake now, and I would like to ask the court to reduce my sentence so I will be able to return to my country soon.”

The court will announce the verdict on November 17.