Taiwanese men were brought to the Supreme Court on Monday. Kim Sarom
Three Taiwanese men sentenced to eight years in prison in 2017 for drug trafficking appeared at the Supreme Court on Monday pleading to have their convictions quashed as the real drug trafficker convicted alongside them was solely responsible and did not join their appeal.
On September 16, 2015, police raided a house in Chamkarmon district’s Tuol Tompoung II commune, arrested four Taiwanese men and seized 90.93g of methamphetamine, 6.32g of heroin and a K59 pistol.
Lin Tonghun, 43, was then sentenced to nine years in prison and fined $4,500 for drug trafficking.
Lor Che Song, 67, Chav Muchenhg, 50, and Kor Chang Heng, each got eight years behind bars. The three of them have appealed their conviction to the Supreme court, while Tonghun has not.
Muchenhg said during the hearing that he appealed to the Supreme Court because he was disappointed with the verdict of the Court of Appeal, which upheld his full eight-year sentence handed down in 2017 by the municipal court.
He said he was not involved with drug trafficking, noting that he came to know Tonghun and on the day of the raid was just visiting him at his home for tea.
“I did not engage in drug trafficking and ask the court to release me,” said Muchenhg.
Che Song also claimed he was not involved in drug trafficking. He noted that at the Court of Appeal trial, he withdrew his complaint after prison officials told him that if he did so, the court would send him to jail in Taiwan.
“The Court of Appeal withdrew my complaint, but the eight-year sentence was the same. I am disappointed with the court and decided to file a complaint to the Supreme Court. Please release me,” Che Song said.
Prosecutor Nov Mony Chot said the accused were not telling the truth and the lower courts had issued correct verdicts.
“Therefore, the trial chamber should look at the facts and consider the law,” he added.
Nou Chantha, a lawyer for the three accused, said Tonghun was to blame for the drugs found by police and his clients were not involved.
“Therefore, the Supreme Court should release my clients,” he said.
Judge Nil Nol said a verdict will be announced on March 9.
