PHNOM PENH, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court on Friday afternoon convicted a Malaysian man of attempting to smuggle heroin worth 700,000 U.S. dollars out of Cambodia and sentenced him to life in prison, according to a verdict.

Ahmad Johari Chung, 23, was arrested on Sept. 12, 2016 at Phnom Penh International Airport en route to China's Taiwan via China's Macao with 1.08 kilograms of heroin strapped to his thighs.

He was charged with "illegally trafficking illicit drug substances" under the country's Drug Law, said the verdict read by Phnom Penh Municipal Court's Presiding Judge Ly Sokleng.

"The court decides to sentence Ahmad Johari Chung to life in prison and fine him 80 million riel (20,000 U.S. dollars)," the verdict said.

During a trial last month, Chung confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.

Under the Cambodian law, the convict has one month to appeal against the ruling. Enditem

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