If there is a judge there is a prosecutor. If there is a prosecutor there is a case. If there is case then your friend didn't negotiate properly on his arrest. If there is a case, a prosecutor and a judge then meeting with the police won't help much.

At this point, because of your friends negotiation skills, you will most likely have to pay off the prosecutor, the judge and the cops. Since it's taken so long and he's still in trouble I'm guessing he won't be let out very easily.

You said that his father and friend flew in. They'll most probably be treated as two extra wallets, so you can expect the price to be even higher due to their involvement.

By this time the $500 ticket out has transformed to something closer to $10,000. Siem Reap is harsher on these things than the capital. There are more international eyes on Siem Reap and they act differently because of it. (Try buying a pack of smokes in a pharmacy in SR.)

I think they'll make an example out of your friend. Charges will be possession and dealing. 2 years and $1000ish in official fines.

Good luck.

Indeed, if it were mere possession:

Without yet taking into account of the provisions of the Articles 31 to
Articles 37.6, any person, who violates the law by storing, purchasing, or planting
intentionally for his/her personal consumption of narcotic plants or substances,
which are considered as addicted drugs or psychotropic substances, shall be
punished to imprisonment from 7 (seven) days to 1 (one) month.
Any person, who consumes illegally of narcotic plants or substances,
which are considered as addicted drugs or psychotropic substances, shall be
punished to imprisonment from 7 (seven) days to 1 (one) month.
In addition to imprisonment, the offender may be liable to a fine from
25,000 (twenty five thousand) riels to 100,000 (hundred thousand) riels.

But now:

Any person, who intentionally violates the provisions of this law and
regulations related to distribute or provide narcotic drugs, which result in serious
dangers, to a person for personal consumption, shall be punished to
imprisonment from 6 (six) months to 2 (two) years. In addition to imprisonment,
the offender may be liable to a fine from 1,000,000 (one million) riels to
4,000,000 (four million) riels.

I'm quoting these both from a PDF I have of the Cambodia Law on the Control of Drugs, but it should be available online too.

Basically, with 17g, they can charge him with either. If it has been this long, I'm with BOFH in guessing they're going to throw the book at him and threaten him with the whole 2 year / $1,000 fine. I just want to know what happened to make it get to this point. There's no political reason to make an example out of him for a little weed, so this must be personal. Somebody didn't play nice when confronted.

A friend was busted with roughly 15 grams yesterday in Sihanoukville. Cops asked for $100. They were happy with $5. Thought I would share...

thanx for the LOL Makavelli... peace ya!

They aren´t in the situation that they can have a long process in figuring out people. It hast to go fast and if there´s a guy who seems to be helpful they don´t have a big choice.

Nobody here can say what to do now, but gonna hate about the things that happen. Respect guys!

Paying money to visit people in prison is normal in Cambodia. Who is this tuk tuk driver and how is he helping? Guys who drive tuk tuks tend to be better at finding you drugs and prostitutes than helping you navigate the Cambodian legal system. Him being half-American may or may not be true, but if it is, I don't necessarily see that as an advantage. In situations like these, there will always be people who see a chance to take advantage of you because they see a lot of money being thrown around.

MekongMouse wrote:Paying money to visit people in prison is normal in Cambodia. Who is this tuk tuk driver and how is he helping? Guys who drive tuk tuks tend to be better at finding you drugs and prostitutes than helping you navigate the Cambodian legal system. Him being half-American may or may not be true, but if it is, I don't necessarily see that as an advantage. In situations like these, there will always be people who see a chance to take advantage of you because they see a lot of money being thrown around.

LoL. Getting help from a Tuk-Tuk driver that claims to be half American is a bad start.

thanx for the LOL Makavelli... peace ya!

They aren´t in the situation that they can have a long process in figuring out people. It hast to go fast and if there´s a guy who seems to be helpful they don´t have a big choice.

Nobody here can say what to do now, but gonna hate about the things that happen. Respect guys!

The reason nobody here can tell you what to do is because nobody here has ever let 17g spiral so far out of control. No hate, that's just the reality.

I can´t understand it , too. It´s crazy what´s going on there. No idea what they have for a problem with him...

My guess is your friend was a cocky little fucker when the cops arrested him so now they want to have some fun with a big payout at the end.