Cambodia’s former anti-drug head gets life sentence for corruption, drug trafficking

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, Cambodia, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) — A Cambodian court on Thursday convicted the former head of the National Authority for Combating Drugs Lt. Gen. Moek Dara of corruption and organized drug trafficking and sentenced him to life in prison and fined 220,000 U.S. dollars.

His two subordinates: former Colonel Chea Leang, chief of the anti-drug department’s money laundering office, was also sentenced to life in jail and fined 21,000 U.S. dollars, and Morn Doeun, who remains at large and was tried in absentia, was sentenced to 25 years in jail and fined 34,000 U.S. dollars.

In addition, the verdict read by the presiding judge Ith Samphos at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court said all of their properties including land, houses and cash are confiscated.

They were charged with falsifying reports in order to hide confiscated drugs for sales and depicting suspected drug dealers as mere addicts to win them lighter sentences in order to exchange for bribery.

Moek Dara and Chea Leang were arrested on Jan. 12, 2011 after the complaint filed against them by the Anti-Corruption Unit.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict delivery, Moek Dara said he would consider appealing against the court’s verdict.