The president of Cambodia’s Nigerian Association and a Cambodian-American man yesterday denied involvement in trafficking drugs from Dubai to Phnom Penh.

Okeke Ugochukwu Emmanuel, 39, president of Cambodia’s Nigerian Association, appeared in court yesterday charged with trafficking drugs.

Yim Rithy, also known as Sany, 37, who manages a clothes store owned by Okeke Ugochukwu Emmanuel, also took the stand, accused of being an accomplice.

It is alleged they were involved in smuggling three kilograms of amphetamines from Dubai to Phnom Penh International Airport in March.  

Okeke Ugochukwu Emmanuel denied guilt, adding he did not own the luggage that had been sent via co-accused Auxillo Math Eaiheressa Dayanan from Dubai to Phnom Penh.

However, he said that on March 22 he had received four phone calls from an unidentified woman, who was staying at a hotel in Phnom Penh, instructing him to collect luggage she had sent from Dubai.

“When I received her phone calls, I thought someone was trying to put blame onto me. So I immediately reported it [to immigration police],” he said.

He said he then sent Yim Rithy to meet the Filipino woman at her hotel.

Yim Rithy also denied trafficking drugs, and said police arrested him after his boss told him to find the woman.

Auxillo Math Eaiheressa Dayanan stands accused of trafficking drugs.

She was arrested on March 21 at Phnom Penh International Airport where immigration police said they found 2.969 kilograms of amphetamines in her luggage.

The hearing will continue today.