On the first day of a Court of Appeal hearing for five men convicted of armed robbery in 2010, the prosecutor claimed that the original six-year sentences were too lenient.

Three of the men, Te Taily, Mao Sophy and Moeun Meas were back in the Court of Appeal yesterday for re-sentencing, having been convicted in 2010 to six-year prison sentences after robbing a gold vendor at a market in Prey Veng province’s Preah Sdech district in 2009.

Arrest warrants are still out for Lay Dara, also known as Tuy, 33, and Sok Choeun, 34, who have yet to be caught.

Presiding judge Phlang Sophal stated that the appeal was brought about by Hean Rith, the Prey Veng Provincial Court deputy prosecutor, who thought the sentences too light and not suitable for the offences the quintet committed.

“Their activities were very cruel. I would suggest the court to sentence each of them to at least eight years in prison,” Hean Rith said.

All three defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, but confessed that they were driven to commit robbery only to support their families.

They added that Lay Dara and Sok Choeun had escaped with the stolen money and other valuable items.

“I know my mistake now. I promise that I will no longer commit it again in future.

I would like to ask the court to reduce my sentence,” Taily said.

Thirty-five damleung of gold, 27 million riel ($7,000), cell-cards worth $2,800, and other jewellery were stolen from the victim in the 2009 incident that involved pistols and axes.

The court will hand down its verdicts on January 9.

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]