Two Taiwanese men convicted in 2012 of transnational drug trafficking, admitted fault at their appeal hearing yesterday but pleaded with the court to reduce their 27-year sentences.

The men – Tseng Chi Shen and Lee Ien Tun, both 35 – were caught mailing 347.3 grams of methamphetamines when the private delivery company reported a suspect package to authorities.

The two were arrested at their Phnom Penh residence in October 2011.

“This is the first time we have done it; the court has sentenced us to too many years . . . We do not have the money to pay the state. We are asking for a reduction of the punishment,” the appellants told presiding judge Seng Sivutha.

The duo’s attorney, Kin Vibol, said that according to the law, if “the quantity of the pure substance is 300 grams, the punishment is from 10 to 20 years”.

Prosecutor Im Sophan said he would leave it in the court’s hands to decide if the punishments were accurately meted out.

Sivutha said that a verdict will be declared September 18.