Duch's Public Hearing Adjourned Without Judgment

Photos: Duch when he was a Director of Tuol Sleng Torture Centre, and (right) the 5 judges heard his case on 20th November 2007.

Duch's public hearing adjourned without judgment
November 20, 2007ECCC opens first public hearing on detention appeal

source: http://www.ki-media.blogspot.com

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) here on Tuesday opened its first public hearing on a detention appeal.Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, who was charged with crimes against humanity by the ECCC, entered the tribunal for a pretrial hearing to appeal his detention ahead of trials scheduled to begin in 2008.Before his arrest by the court, Duch, who headed the S-21 prison during the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) era, had been held in a military prison without trial since 1999. His lawyer, Kar Savuth, called this a violation of international law and Cambodian law. Prosecutors, however, contend that Duch's freedom would risk creating public disorder and that he may try to flee justice if released.After hours of hearing, the judges adjourned the proceeding without judgment at around 16:30 local time (0930 GMT). Prak Kim San, president of the pre-trial chamber of the ECCC, announced that they will continue the hearing process Wednesday.Four other top Khmer Rouge officials have been arrested and charged, including former DK head of state Khieu Samphan, who was arrested and charged on Monday with crimes against humanity and war crimes.ECCC was co-installed by the United Nations and the Cambodian government last year to try former DK leaders.Source: Xinhua