A 22-year-old Malaysian man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for trying to smuggle more than 1 kilogram of heroin—with a street value of about $700,000—out of Cambodia last year.
Ahmad Johari Chung, a native of Malaysia’s Sabah state on the island of Borneo, was arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport in September while en route to Taipei via Macau after officials patted him down and found the drugs strapped to his thigh.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court “decided to sentence Ahmad Johari Chung to life in prison and fine him 80 million riel” or about $20,000, Presiding Judge Ly Sokleng announced on Friday.
He had been charged with possessing, transporting and dealing drugs.
The judge also ordered the arrest of a Chinese national, Choi Chun Tung, but did not elaborate.
Leaving court, a dejected Mr. Chung shook his head and told a reporter, “It’s unfair to me,” adding that he would consider appealing.
