Four Convicted Over Attempt to Send Brides to China

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday convicted a Chinese man and three Cambodians of human trafficking over an attempt to send three Cambodian women to China as brides.

The four—Chinese businessman Liu Shiping, 35; his translator Kheang Sophea, 28; Ms. Sophea’s husband Kheang Sengly, 31; and tuk-tuk driver Doeun Meth, 52—were arrested in December 2013 on their way to Phnom Penh International Airport, where three brides-to-be were to be put on a plane to China.

Presiding Judge Ly Sokleng sentenced Ms. Sophea and Mr. Sengly to seven years in prison, and Mr. Meth to two years and six months, for fraudulently requesting documents and buying or selling a person for cross-border transfer.

Mr. Liu was sentenced to two years and six months for selling, buying or exchanging a person for cross-border transfer.

Non Vannet, a defense lawyer for Doeun Meth, said he would appeal if his client instructed him to do so.

“It is the right of my client,” he said.

The other defense lawyers could not be reached.

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