Cambodia's Appeal Court upholds jail terms for 2 Thai poachers

PHNOM PENH, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Appeal Court of Cambodia on Wednesday upheld a five-year prison sentences for two Thai men who had originally been convicted by the Preah Vihear Provincial Court in August 2010 on charges of illegally crossing the border with poaching weapons.
"The two Thai men -- Phit Orn-na, 48, and Thong Dem Yakla, 52 -- have confessed to their mistakes, so the Appeal Court decided to uphold the jail terms for the two Thai men," according to the verdict announced by the presiding judge Khun Leangmeng.
"They will be deported to their country soon after they have served their prison terms."
Khun Leangmeng said the convicts have the rights to sue to the Supreme Court if they still disagree with the verdict of the Appeal Court.
The two men were arrested on May 5, 2010 in Preah Vihear province's Choam Ksan district and later charged with illegal border crossing and illegal weapon possession. They were tried by the Preah Vihear Provincial Court on August 12, 2010.