Court hands lengthy sentences to crystal meth traffickers

 


 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday handed down a verdict in the case of 11 suspected drug traffickers including eight Cambodians, two Thai nationals and one Vietnamese national. 

The accused were sentenced in connection with criminal possession and trafficking of about 45 kilograms of ice, ketamine and ecstasy pills in Phnom Penh and Banteay Meanchey provinces. 


The court sentenced eight of the accused traffickers to imprisonment from 12 years to 30 years in prison each. Three of the accused were released from because they were proven to be uninvolved with the others. 

Presiding Judge Hok Pov named eight Cambodians were accused of trafficking, including Sok Toeng, male, 39; Heng Sarkun, male, 43; Toeun Sarom, male, 41; Muth Sophon, male, 32; Seng Laty, male, 35; Sith Visal, male, 26; Chheng Lay, male, 26; and Sok Kunthear, female, 37.

Two Thais were also accused, identified as Weeraphat Hun-Grathanapong Sorn, male, 35; and Songwat Bau-Sri, male, 30. Both are Thai nationals. A third foreigner was identified as Lam Hong Phung, male, 28, a Vietnamese national. 


Three of the accused, Heng Sarkun, Sith Visal and Chheng Lay, were released by the court and their charges were dropped. The court did not find them guilty as accused because they were not involved with other 8 traffickers. The court duly ordered their release from prison today.  

Judge Pov said Weeraphat Hun-Grathanapong Sorn and Songwat Bau-Sri were sentenced to 30 years in prison each and a fine 80 million Riels (about $ 20,000) each,  Muth Sophon and Seng Laty were sentenced to 25 years in prison each and a fine 60 million Riels ( $ 15, 000) and Lam Hong Phung Sok Toeng, Toeun Sarom and Sok Kunthear were sentenced to 12 in prison each and a fine 40 million Riels ( about $ 10,000) each. 

He stated that they were charged with “drug possession, trafficking and transport” under Article 40 of the Cambodian Law on Drug Trafficking. 

The judge emphasized that Sok Toeng and Heng Sarkun were arrested on July 13, 2022 by police from the Anti-Drug Department in the Ministry of Interior at Phnom Penh’s Chamkar Mon district.



He added that Sok Toeng and Heng Sarkun were arrested after a sting operation. Undercover police posed as buyers and the traffickers brought drugs for sale. Police seized three kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice) from them at the scene.  

Judge Pov noted that after Sok Toeng and Heng Sarkun’s capture and confession, they cooperated with police. The investigation later apprehended the other 9 suspects near the Cambodian-Thai-Border, in Poipet city, Banteay Meanchey province, on July 14 and 15.  

He pointed out that after their arrest, police seized more than 40 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice), Ketamine and ecstasy pills from them.  

Police also seized two cars, two motorbikes, 3 scales, 7 mobile phones, and a pistol. 

He added that the drugs seized amounted to a total of 45 kilograms.

  


 

 

 

 

 

 


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