A former karaoke star and four accomplices, including a Vietnamese national, were handed prison sentences on Friday for their role in importing 1.2 kilograms of drug-producing chemicals from Vietnam in 2010.

Suos Sam Ath, presiding judge at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, sentenced 30-year-old former actor and singer Sneg Vuth, as well as three of his accomplices Kim Ra, 44, Seang Sokhorn, 40, and Sin Kamol, 35 to four years in prison each.

Each of the four was also fined US$3,750.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Vietnamese national Ly Vanlan was sentenced to eight years in prison and given a $4,500 fine.

The court also arranged for Ly Vanlan to be deported back to Vietnam once his sentence has been served.

Each of the convicted men proclaimed their innocence in court on Friday.

Judge Sous Sam Ath responded by informing them that if they were dissatisfied with the court’s decision, they each had the right to appeal.

To contact the reporter on this story: Lieng Sarith at [email protected]