Khmer Rouge's Duch appeals sentence
Source: Agencies |
March 29, 2011, Tuesday
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THE man who admitted to overseeing the torture and killing of 16,000 people as the Khmer Rouge's chief prison warden returned to the courtroom yesterday in Cambodia to appeal his 19-year prison sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Kaing Guek Eav - also known as Duch - is the only person so far to be tried by a special United Nations-backed tribunal set up to investigate and prosecute officials from the brutal regime whose four-year rule in the 1970s led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
Duch, 68, was sentenced last July to 35 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but it was commuted to 19 years due to time already served and other technicalities. The sentence was widely criticized as too lenient. Victims and relatives of the Khmer Rouge have expressed outrage at the sentence, which could allow Duch to one day walk free.
Defense lawyers have argued that Duch was wrongfully convicted because the tribunal - known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia - was supposed to try only senior Khmer Rouge leaders. They argue Duch was not a top leader and was merely following orders.
Duch briefly told the court in Phnom Penh yesterday that his case hinged on "personal jurisdiction" - that is, whether the court had authority to prosecute him. He then sat impassively as his lawyers spoke.
During his 77-day trial, Duch admitted to overseeing the deaths of up to 16,000 people who passed through the gates of the notorious Toul Sleng prison - also known as S-21. Prisoners were accused of being enemies of the regime, and many were tortured into making false confessions.
Prosecutors have also appealed the sentence, seeking life in prison for Duch, and were scheduled to present their appeal today.
Kaing Guek Eav - also known as Duch - is the only person so far to be tried by a special United Nations-backed tribunal set up to investigate and prosecute officials from the brutal regime whose four-year rule in the 1970s led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
Duch, 68, was sentenced last July to 35 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but it was commuted to 19 years due to time already served and other technicalities. The sentence was widely criticized as too lenient. Victims and relatives of the Khmer Rouge have expressed outrage at the sentence, which could allow Duch to one day walk free.
Defense lawyers have argued that Duch was wrongfully convicted because the tribunal - known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia - was supposed to try only senior Khmer Rouge leaders. They argue Duch was not a top leader and was merely following orders.
Duch briefly told the court in Phnom Penh yesterday that his case hinged on "personal jurisdiction" - that is, whether the court had authority to prosecute him. He then sat impassively as his lawyers spoke.
During his 77-day trial, Duch admitted to overseeing the deaths of up to 16,000 people who passed through the gates of the notorious Toul Sleng prison - also known as S-21. Prisoners were accused of being enemies of the regime, and many were tortured into making false confessions.
Prosecutors have also appealed the sentence, seeking life in prison for Duch, and were scheduled to present their appeal today.
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