Two Nigerian nationals, an American and a Cambodian on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, were handed jail terms ranging from three to 25 years, and also fined ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, for their involvement in selling over two kilograms of meth to an undercover police officer in Cambodia, in 2021.
Presiding Judge Kim Sokunthea of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court 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.
Judge Sokunthea said among them, Theam Tola was sentenced to three years in prison and was fined 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).
“They were all charged with “drug possession, transportation and trafficking” under Article 40 of Cambodian Law on Drugs Control,” she added.
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.