Bail For Khmer Rouge Prison Chief Turned Down

Bail application by Khmer Rouge prison chief turned down by UN-backed tribunal

The United Nations-backed tribunal in Cambodia trying Khmer Rouge leaders accused of mass killings and other crimes three decades ago today dismissed a former prison chief's appeal to be released from provisional detention pending his trial.

The pre-trial chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), sitting in the capital, Phnom Penh, announced that it had agreed unanimously to uphold the decision of the co-investigating judges to deny bail to Kaing Guek Eav.

Also known as Duch, Mr. Kaing was charged in July with crimes against humanity over his role as chief at the S21 prison in Phnom Penh during the Khmer Rouge's rule in the 1970s, when hundreds of thousands of people were killed or died from starvation, forced labour and ill treatment.

Under an agreement signed by the UN and Cambodia, the trial court and a Supreme Court within the Cambodian legal system will investigate those most responsible for crimes and serious violations of national and international law under Khmer Rouge rule between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979, when up to 3 million people may have perished.

ENDS

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