Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): On the morning of 30 August 2022, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of Appeal held a hearing on the appeal of an elderly man accused of trafficking nearly 286 grams of methamphetamine in Phnom Penh during 2011.

Mr. Ky Rithy, President of the Trial Chamber, stated that the accused is Viko, a 76-year-old male farmer living in Thala Parivat District, Stung Treng Province. He was arrested on 14 February 2011 in Sangkat Chey Chumneas, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh.

According to the judge, Viko was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in 2011 to 18 years in prison and fined 20 million riels for illegal drug trafficking under Article 40 of the Law on Drug Control.

Now in 2022, the defendant has appealed to the Court of Appeal to commute his sentence and release him from prison, as he is old and has a number of medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court of Appeal will announce its verdict on the case on the morning of 15 September 2022.

UPDATE
The sentence appeal was denied by the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh yesterday, and the 76-year-old man had his 18 year sentence for trafficking 286 grams of methamphetamine upheld.