Two men were sentenced to three years in jail at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday for wearing police uniforms illegally while possessing a fake gun and driving a motorbike with an illegal number plate.
Touch Ravuth, 32, and Sreng Sopheap, 25, were stopped and arrested in Sen Sok district’s Toek Thla commune in January due to the belief that they were planning to commit a robbery.
“It is an unacceptable verdict and it is an injustice to me, I will discuss with my defense about an appeal,” said Mr. Sopheap outside court. He said Mr. Ravuth was the one wearing the uniform and possessing the fake gun.
Mr. Ravuth has previously claimed he was only wearing the uniform as he had dressed up for the birthday party of a friend’s child.
Am Sam Ath, senior investigator for rights group Licadho, said the judge could not lay down such a verdict based on a prediction that the two were planning on a crime.
“It’s an injustice for the suspects when a court sentences by presumption,” said Mr. Ath.
