Cambodian court gives Swede 28 years in drug case

March 16, 2012

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian court has sentenced a Swedish man and his Vietnamese girlfriend to 28 years in prison for drug production and trafficking.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court Sin Visal said 30-year-old Nicki Christoffer Ekelund and the woman were convicted and sentenced Friday. They were fined 120 million riel ($30,000) each.

Ekelund's lawyer Ek Vannak said he would appeal.

Four Cambodian men linked to the drug dealing were each sentenced to six years in jail and fined 15 million riels ($3,750).

Police said they seized cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and drug-making materials when they arrested the couple at their home in Phnon Penh last June.