Nine Nigerian nationals, including one still at large, and a Cambodian woman were sentenced to five to eight years in prison and fined a total of 126 million riel ($30,663) for drug trafficking at Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.
Nine out of the 10 accused were arrested last January after being found in possession of nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine powder that was intended for sale around Phnom Penh.
“[The court] is ordering the arrest of Obieze Kenneth Uche,” judge Khy Chai said of the alleged ringleader, who remains at large. “After the verdict comes into effect, all nine foreigners, after serving their jail terms, have to be deported out of Cambodia and prevented from entering Cambodia for the next five years.”
On the last day of the trial, it was revealed that only two out of the 15 samples collected tested positive for meth, with 4 and 5 percent purity, respectively.
In the same hearing, Cambodian national Morm Vonyong, 25, admitted to delivering drugs to customers several times in exchange for $100. Her attorney, Lay Longdy, said he will be appealing the verdict.
