Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Cambodian court sentences Taiwanese man to jail for drug trafficking

AP
2008-06-11

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - A Cambodian court sentenced a Taiwanese man to 22 years in prison for trying to smuggle 1.76 pounds (0.8 kilogram) of heroin out of Cambodia, a court official said Wednesday.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Chhay Kong said he sentenced Lin Kochih, 41, during a court hearing Tuesday.

The court also ordered Lin to pay a fine of 60 million riel (US$15,000).Police arrested Lin in October 2007 after finding heroin hidden in his clothes when he checked in for a flight to Taiwan at Phnom Penh's international airport.

Nou Chantha, Lin's defense lawyer, said his client was a victim and was not involved in the smuggling of the heroin.

He said the heroin belonged to Lin's best friend who asked him to bring a substance to Taiwan to be used in the production of make-up powder.

The lawyer said he would appeal the case.

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