A Nigerian man and his Vietnamese wife were sentenced to 25 years jail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday for mailing 1.5 kilograms of heroin to Australia.

The couple was arrested on July 15, 2014, after Australian authorities told Cambodian anti-drug police they found 1,550 grams of heroin in eight packages hidden in backpacks sent from Cambodia. Hearings began on February 5 this year.

Judge Than Leng sentenced Okeke Amedi Samuel, 34, and his 28-year-old wife, Ho Thi Hu Thuy, to 25 years along with fines of 50 million riel (about $12,400) each “on the charge of illegally transporting drugs [through the] Dangkor district branch post office on May 5 and 21, 2014”.

A Honda CRV automobile, eight passports, the backpacks and sewing materials would remain confiscated as per Article 92 of the Criminal Code, the judge continued, adding that “finger rings, necklaces, earrings, and motorbikes must be returned to the owners”.

Asked if he accepted the verdict after the trial, Okeke maintained his innocence.

“Accept what, if I don’t know, accept what?” he said.