'Duch On Trial', Appeal Judgment, ep 28

This is the final episode in a series of weekly video updates about Case 001 in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT), currently under way in Cambodia.

In the first case, starting March 2009, Kaing Guek Eav, alias "Duch," admitted that he ran the Khmer Rouge's notorious S-21 interrogation center.

After more than six months of proceedings, the case concluded with closing prosecution and defense arguments in December 2009.

In July 2010, the Trial Chamber judges announced their verdict and sentence. Duch was found guilty of grave crimes including 'Crimes Against Humanity and 'Genocide'. He was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment, reduced by five years to compensate for his illegal detention by the Cambodian military authorities prior to his trial starting. He was given 'jail credit' of 11 years - the time he had already spent in custody, meaning he would spend only a further 19 years in prison.
Both verdict and sentence were appealed by prosecution and defense lawyers. Appeals were also heard from some civil parties on various legal matters.

After a three-day hearing in March 2011, the seven KRT Supreme Court judges retired to consider the various appeals.

In this 28th and final program, the Appeals Judgment -- announced Friday 3 February 2012 - is summarized, analysed and discussed. The views of ordinary Cambodians attending the judgment are also heard.

The program was shown on CTN, Cambodia's leading TV channel, on Friday 3 February 2012.

Copyright East-West Center 2011