By ANEEKA SIMONIS
DRUG smugglers convicted over importing up to $15 million worth of heroin to properties in the Greater Dandenong area have had their sentencing appeal submissions denied.
Cambodian born pair Chhodaphea Kev and Sambath Sok were each found guilty of importing and possessing a commercial quality of a border controlled drug in April last year.
The 16-day trial in the County Court found the men had organised for five parcels containing a total of 12.36 kg of heroin – eight times the prescribed commercial quantity – to be sent from Cambodia to their rental properties in Keysborough and Springvale.
The first parcel, containing 2.4kg of heroin, was delivered to the rental property in Springvale on 4 April 2012.
The other four parcels were examined by Customs officers, before three were delivered to the Keysborough rental on 13 April 2012.
Kev picked up the parcels and then went to the Springvale property where he and Sok were arrested by police.
The court heard the imported heroin was valued between $8 and $15 million wholesale.
Each received a 14 year and nine month jail term with an 11 year non-parole period.
Kev and Sok applied for leave to appeal their drug convictions but their submissions were thrown out by the Supreme Court at the start of September.
Kev’s legal representatives argued his sentence, in comparison with the sentence imposed on Sok, offended the principle of parity.
Sok applied for leave to appeal his sentence based on the belief the sentence was too excessive and did not make fair considerations to his prospects for rehabilitation and contributing drug addiction problems.
Both submissions were denied by the court.
