This week the Trial Chamber heard from the final two witnesses on S-21 Security Center in Phnom Penh. First, Mr. Suos Thy concluded his testimony from last week about his role keeping lists of prisoners at S-21. Shortly before the lunch break on Tuesday, Suos Thy’s testimony ended and the Chamber swore in Witness Mr. Kaing Guek Eav, more commonly known by his revolutionary alias “Duch.” Duch served as both deputy and then head of S-21 (also referred to as Tuol Sleng) during the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime, and was tried and convicted in Case 001 of crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. While serving a lifetime prison sentence, Duch appeared in Court this week to provide testimony in Case 002/01 on his knowledge of Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) hierarchy, policies and actions. Duch is scheduled to testify over nine full days: four allotted to the Co-Prosecutors and Civil Party lawyers, four to the two Defense Teams and one for the Judges. This week the Co-Prosecutors, led by assistant prosecutor Mr. Dale Lysak, and international Lead Co-Lawyer for Civil Parties Ms. Marie Guiraud, put questions to Duch on Nuon Chea’s role at S-21, treatment of Lon Nol soldiers, sexual violence, and other forms of torture. Duch will continue his testimony next week.
KRT Trial Monitor No. 56 – Hearings on Evidence Week 53 (6-9 June 2016)
Khmer Rouge Trial Monitor 