Undercover bust: Military man, wife in court over drugs

A military officer, his wife and four others were tried by Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday over accusations that they sold nearly half a kilogram of drugs to an undercover cop in Russey Keo district in February.

Presiding judge Taing Sunlay said that Captain El Sarim, 40, a military officer with the Ministry of Defence; his wife, Mao Leakhena, 43; motodop Nay Meth, 45; high school student Seng Samnang, 17; and karaoke hostesses Chan Mey Mey, 22, and Vong Kannha, 20, were allegedly busted with 263 grams of meth and 230 grams of ketamine as well as six drug scales and other drug paraphernalia.

At their hearing yesterday, the accused said the drugs and scales had been planted by police. Buon Sam Ath, chief of the municipal Anti-Drug Trafficking Unit, denied the defendants’ claims.

If found guilty, the six face prison terms of two to five years and fines ranging from about $1,000 to about $2,500.

A verdict is due on October 17.