Kandal (Cambodia), Aug 27 (IANS): A Cambodian court on Thursday sentenced five men to seven years in prison for stealing a golden urn containing relics of the Buddha from a shrine in December, 2013, media reported.
The five criminals include four shrine security guards and the chief of security of the mountaintop shrine on the Oudong mountain. All of them were arrested soon after the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.
"The court decides to sentence each of them to seven years in prison and fine each of them $2,000," said the verdict.
Buddha relics are vital in terms of cultural and religious value in Cambodia where around 90 percent of population are Buddhists.