By By: Sola Omoniyi
Two Nigerians bag 25-year jail term for drug trafficking in Cambodia
The Cambodia government has sentenced two Nigerian nationals and American man to 25 years imprisonment for drug trafficking offense.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, sentenced two Nigerians, an American and a Cambodian to imprisonment ranging from three to 25 years, and also fined them ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, in connection with selling over two kilograms of meth to an undercover police officer in the capital, in 2021; according to JJ media.
Kim Sokunthea, the presiding judge named the four accused as Theam Tola, 36, a former Chinese-English-Interpreter; Chineme Nwoko Precious, 41; David Vincent; 48; both Nigerians and a former English teacher; Matthew David Sample, 40; American national.
Theam Tola was sentenced to three years in prison with a fine of 4 million Riels (about $1,000) to put in state’s budget, while Chineme Nwoko Precious, David Vincent and Matthew David Sample were sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined 40 million Riels (about $10,000), Sokunthea stated.
“They were all charged with “drug possession, transportation and trafficking” under Article 40 of Cambodian Law on Drugs Control.
“Relating to Tola’s arrest, Judge Sokunthear said on February 5, 2022 he was arrested in Chroy Changvar district’s Chroy Changvar commune, with a package of drugs to sell to an undercover police officer, posing as a drug dealer.
“She noted Matthew David Sample’s arrest was on the same day around 7:30 pm in Tuol Kork district’s Phsar Depo commune and police seized more than 1kg of meth from him.
“Based on Sample’s confession and his cooperation, police later arrested David Vincent around 8:30 am on February 6 in Dangkor commune and police seized about 1kg of meth from Vincent,” she added.
She added that based on Vincent’s confession and cooperation, police then arrested Nwoko Precious Chineme, currently interned at Prey Sar prison for 27 years for a previous drug offence in 2009.
