Former Anti-Drugs Chief Says He Is a Victim, Not a Criminal

At his appeal hearing yesterday, former anti-drug police chief Moek Dara railed against what he said was injustice of his incarceration for a slew of drug-related crimes, for which he continues to deny his guilt. Mr. Dara, former chief of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, and his subordinate Chea Leng are both appealing life sentences that were handed down by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial court in January. … Mr. Dara agreed to water down the charges against the dealer in return for a total of $120,000 in bribes from associates of the suspect-of which he kept $40,000 the judge said. …