Saturday, March 28, 2015
Cambodia Tribunal Issues New Charges in Case Number 4
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) was set up in 2006 to bring to trial senior leaders and those most responsible for crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, during which at least 1.7 million people are believed to have died from starvation, torture, execution and forced labor.
Ao An, who in one news release was described as a former Investigating Judge at the ECCC, is being charged with “crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, persecution on political and religious grounds, imprisonment, and other inhumane acts” committed at three sites. Specifically, Ao An is being charged under Cambodian law and international criminal law with the following crimes:
- premeditated homicide, as a violation of the 1956 Cambodian Penal Code, allegedly committed at Kok Pring execution site, Tuol Beng security centre and Wat Au Trakuon security center; and
- the Crimes against Humanity of murder, extermination, persecution on political and religious grounds, imprisonment, and other inhumane acts at Kok Pring execution site, Tuol Beng security center and Wat Au Trakuon security center
Ao An, who is now 79 years old, is part of what is known as ‘case number 4.’ He is also known as "Ta An" and when he appeared before the ECCC to hear the charges against him he denied that he was responsible for the killings and said he was not afraid to face the tribunal.
The charges against Ao An were issued by International Co-Investigating Judge Mark Harmon without support from his Cambodian National Counterpart, You Bunleng.
(mew) (parts adapted from a UN Press Release)
And hey, if you read this far, go and "like" the ECCC's Facebook Page.
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/international_law/2015/03/eccc.html
