A Nigerian who described himself as a footballer was yesterday sentenced in Phnom Penh Municipal Court to eight years’ jail and fined 40 million riel (about $10,000) for drug trafficking. Francis Ihenwe Oderah, 30, had 100 grams of meth in his possession when he was arrested in Phnom Penh’s Choam Chao commune in January.

During his hearing on June 7, the accused admitted having acted as a delivery man, but said he was not a dealer. It also was revealed that the meth he was carrying had a purity of about 72 per cent.

Oderah will carry out his sentence in Prey Sar prison, where he has been detained since his arrest in January.

Judge Svay Tonh also ruled that three phones and a passport taken from the defendant upon his arrest would be returned. Oderah refused to comment when asked about the verdict on his way out of court.