AFP
AN Australian teenager jailed in Cambodia for 13 years on drug charges has lost his appeal, despite complaints that the sentence was too harsh, his lawyer has said.
Gordon Vuong, who was 16 when he was arrested last year trying to board a flight out of Cambodia with 2.1kg of heroin concealed on his body, has one more chance to plead his case before Cambodia's Supreme Court, lawyer Suy Chhunhak has said.
"The decision is unjust for my client," he said, adding that Vuong's jail term should be reduced to five years since he was a juvenile.
"Vuong's mother, who came from Australia to hear the ruling, was disappointed with the decision," he said.
"She asked me to file another appeal at the Supreme Court."
In an unusual evening session, Cambodia's appeals court last night upheld Vuong's May 2005 conviction and sentence.
Vuong is a former student at Christian Brothers Lewisham in Sydney's inner-west.
His family and friends say he was coerced into acting as a drug mule by two adults, who have since been convicted of drug smuggling in Cambodia.
It is possible he could serve his term in Australia under a prisoner transfer deal expected to be signed next month.
Customs Minister Chris Ellison said late last week he hoped to sign a prisoner transfer deal with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen when he visits Canberra next month.
"We are making good progress with a transfer of prisoner agreement with Cambodia," Senator Ellison said.
"Gordon Vuong was sentenced as a juvenile and his case has been of concern to the Australian Government because of his age.
"I'll be raising this matter with (the Cambodian Prime Minister) and hopefully looking towards signing an agreement with the Cambodian government when he visits Canberra."
Gordon Vuong, who was 16 when he was arrested last year trying to board a flight out of Cambodia with 2.1kg of heroin concealed on his body, has one more chance to plead his case before Cambodia's Supreme Court, lawyer Suy Chhunhak has said.
"The decision is unjust for my client," he said, adding that Vuong's jail term should be reduced to five years since he was a juvenile.
"Vuong's mother, who came from Australia to hear the ruling, was disappointed with the decision," he said.
"She asked me to file another appeal at the Supreme Court."
In an unusual evening session, Cambodia's appeals court last night upheld Vuong's May 2005 conviction and sentence.
Vuong is a former student at Christian Brothers Lewisham in Sydney's inner-west.
His family and friends say he was coerced into acting as a drug mule by two adults, who have since been convicted of drug smuggling in Cambodia.
It is possible he could serve his term in Australia under a prisoner transfer deal expected to be signed next month.
Customs Minister Chris Ellison said late last week he hoped to sign a prisoner transfer deal with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen when he visits Canberra next month.
"We are making good progress with a transfer of prisoner agreement with Cambodia," Senator Ellison said.
"Gordon Vuong was sentenced as a juvenile and his case has been of concern to the Australian Government because of his age.
"I'll be raising this matter with (the Cambodian Prime Minister) and hopefully looking towards signing an agreement with the Cambodian government when he visits Canberra."
No comments:
Post a Comment