The Phnom Penh Municipal Court of Appeal on June 28 heard the case of a man sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2019 for dealing more than 150g of methamphetamine.
Anti-drug police in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town arrested Hab Borom, then 22 years old, on October 2019 for selling drugs, and confiscated 30 packages of methamphetamine weighing 154.53g.
Charged with illegal drug trafficking and use, the provincial court found Borom guilty on February 24, 2020 and handed down a prison sentence of 13 years.
Defence lawyer Nou Chantha sought clemency for his client, pleading to Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun and his two co-judges that Borom had admitted his guilt from his initial arrest to trial, and had cooperated fully with the police and the court.
“He is appealing because he does not agree with the 13-year prison sentence handed down by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court. I request that the appeal court consider reducing my client's sentence,” Chantha said.
Phnom Penh Appeal Court deputy prosecutor Yin Sokuntheary told the hearing that provincial anti-drug police recorded Borom as having been arrested in the act of committing the crime, while provincial court records showed he had confessed.
“With these facts, I would like to request that the trial chamber consider the case and decide according to the law,” she said.
After the nearly half-hour hearing, Presiding Judge Sam Oeun said the verdict would be announced on July 12.
