The trial of eight Nigerians and a Cambodian woman
arrested on allegations of drug trafficking resumed at the Phnom Penh
Municipal Court on Monday April 25, with police saying that the group worked
together as team despite several of the defendants’ denials.
All eight Nigerians (pictured arriving at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday) were arrested on January 8, 2015, at three
different places, while their alleged ringleader, Obieze Kenneth Uche,
also known as John or Jack, is still at large. Morm Vanyong, a Cambodian
woman who allegedly worked in the operation, was also arrested.
Police found drugs and scales in Uche’s apartment, and anti-drug
police official Yin Panharith said the arrests were made after months of
surveillance and undercover activities.
"They had a structure. Their leader is Jack, who had a Cambodian
wife. Jack told all the suspects to bring drugs to the buyers by passing
them through their agents, one to one," Panharith said.
Defendant Tony Chukwuonye testified on Monday that he had brought
drugs from Uche to Vanyong only once, though police had accused him of
doing it several times, most recently bringing her four packages of
drugs and receiving almost $20,000 from her. Police also said they found
two sets of scales at Chukwuonye’s house.
Judge Khy Chai also questioned defendants Okorom Nhabui Favour and
Okorom Kizito Chimedu, brothers who were arrested in a church near
Boeung Tompun, asking Favour why did not cooperate with the police.
"You locked the door and went upstairs for three hours until the police broke the door down. Why did you do that?" Chai asked.
Favour responded he had been frightened by the sight of men in plain
clothes with guns, but Panharith accused him and two other suspects of
trying to destroy evidence.
Fellow defendant Francis Nnamdi, meanwhile, admitted to meeting
Vanyong, but said he had believed the meeting was related to a community
organisation he was involved with. He denied having any knowledge of
the other defendants.
Four other defendants – Okarom Kizito Chimedu, Simon Maduka Ukandu,
Sunday Nwa Buisi and Nna Mezie Victor – denied any involvement in the
trafficking, but said they had seen each other at church.
Vanyong and the last Nigerian defendant, Izuchukwu Chukwuma, did not
testify yesterday, and judge Chai said he wanted to try Vanyong
separately.
The hearing will resume at an unspecified date.
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