A Phnom Penh Municipal judge yesterday sentenced a former military officer to 10 years for drug trafficking and running an illicit lottery, while his niece received a one-year suspended sentence for her role.

Heang Pov, 36, a former Royal Cambodian Armed Forces captain, and his niece, Nouv Kanha, a 24-year-old student, were arrested on November 26, when police raided his Tuol Kork district house, municipal anti-drug police chief Eav Phearith said.

The search turned up about three kilos of methamphetamine powder, about $97,000, weapons and drug paraphernalia.

“[Pov] was arrested when our police raided his house,” Phearith said.

“While he was being arrested, he ordered his niece, Nouv Kanha, to dump drugs down the toilet.”

Then an RCAF officer, Pov was charged with drug trafficking, operating an illegal gambling enterprise and illegal weapons use. Kanha was charged with eliminating evidence.

Pov declined to comment to the Post yesterday.

An anti-drug police officer, who asked not to be named, yesterday said he believed the sentences were too lenient.

“They should receive a harsher punishment . . . so they do not commit this crime again.”