The Court of Appeal yesterday heard the case of three organ traffickers convicted of convincing relatives to travel to Thailand to have their kidneys sold between 2012 and 2014.
Defendant Yem Asi Sas, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in March for persuading three alleged victims to sell their kidneys to wealthy recipients, then pocketing the lion’s share of the proceeds.
Accomplices Nhem Phalla, 48, Asi Sas’ father, and Heng Sabay, 22, were sentenced to 10 years.
The case only came to light in 2014 when a dispute over a motorbike between one of the victims and Asi Sas led two of the aggrieved parties to file a police complaint.
In court yesterday, Asi Sas admitted to arranging the deal, but said it was made in good faith and that she had only taken $1,000 as a fee.
“I told them about this business, and they agreed,” she said.
The victims acknowledged as much, but maintained that they were misled, and that Asi Sas had only given them about a quarter of the $12,000 she was allegedly paid for each kidney. A verdict is due November 12.
