THREE Thai nationals charged with illegally crossing into Cambodia and possessing illegal firearms appeared at Siem Reap provincial court onMonday, with a verdict expected December 6.

“We have maintained our accusations against the men,” said Heng Kheng, the court’s deputy prosecutor. He declined to comment on what sentence the men could face if they are found guilty.

On August 18, Oddar Meanchey provincial authorities arrested Sanong Wongcharoen, 36, Lim Puangpet, 39, and Lan Sapsri, 53, all from Thailand’s Surin province. At the time of the trio’s arrest, Cambodian soldiers confiscated homemade guns, lights and batteries. They were sent to Siem Reap provincial court on August 20 and were charged with illegal entry and the illegal use of weapons.

At the time of their arrest, Thai media reports quoted Surin provincial governor Raphee Pongbuppakit as saying that Prime Minister Hun Sen had ordered the release of the Thai men.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said yesterday that since the arrest of the three men, the government has received no request from the Thai authorities to that effect.

Thai embassy officials in Phnom Penh could not be reached for comment yesterday.