Cambodia jails Briton 5 years for drug trafficking

A Cambodian court on Thursday sentenced British man Peter Richard Gold, 70, to five years in prison for drug trafficking, according to a verdict.

"The court found Peter Richard Gold guilty of possessing and trafficking illicit drug," said the verdict read by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Ly Sokleng. "The court decides to sentence him to five years in prison and to fine him six million riel (1,500 U.S. dollars)."

Besides, Gold's Cambodian girlfriend and two Cambodian-American men were also sentenced to between two and five years in jail for being conspirators in the case, the verdict said.

Gold and his accomplices were arrested by the anti-narcotics task force in February 2015 at his rental house in Phnom Penh with the possession of 4.69 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 18.44 grams of marijuana, and a scale.

Under the kingdom's law, the convicts have one month to appeal against the verdict.

source: Xinhua