Chaiman Mao (L) with Pol Pot (C) and Ieng Sary (R) during the Khmer Rouge heydaysBy Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 April 2008
Lawyers for jailed Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary filed a petition to the tribunal courts Monday protesting the legality of a trial due to an earlier royal amnesty.
Lawyer Ang Udom said Wednesday a trial of his client would be illegitimate.
"He cannot be tried for the second time," Ang Udom said. "This is contrary to local and international law, because he has been tried and pardoned by the king."
Ieng Sary was found guilty in absentia of genocide in a trial following the ousting of the Khmer Rouge in 1979. The trial is widely viewed as a show trial.
Ieng Sary defected to the government in 1996, following a royal pardon and amnesty by then king Norodom Sihanouk for the guilty verdict of the Vietnamese trial.
Lawyers argued the amnesty should take precedence over the hybrid courts. However, experts say he can still be charged with war crimes, even if the courts allow the amnesty argument.
Tribunal co-prosecutor Robert Petit confirmed Wednesday receipt of the petition, which said the court had no authority in the Ieng Sary case, due to the royal pardon and amnesty agreement with the government.
"Indeed, we will look at that closely and reply to the lawyers in writing," he said.
Lawyer Ang Udom said Wednesday a trial of his client would be illegitimate.
"He cannot be tried for the second time," Ang Udom said. "This is contrary to local and international law, because he has been tried and pardoned by the king."
Ieng Sary was found guilty in absentia of genocide in a trial following the ousting of the Khmer Rouge in 1979. The trial is widely viewed as a show trial.
Ieng Sary defected to the government in 1996, following a royal pardon and amnesty by then king Norodom Sihanouk for the guilty verdict of the Vietnamese trial.
Lawyers argued the amnesty should take precedence over the hybrid courts. However, experts say he can still be charged with war crimes, even if the courts allow the amnesty argument.
Tribunal co-prosecutor Robert Petit confirmed Wednesday receipt of the petition, which said the court had no authority in the Ieng Sary case, due to the royal pardon and amnesty agreement with the government.
"Indeed, we will look at that closely and reply to the lawyers in writing," he said.
5 comments:
hell to you all for the stupid justice!
Give us real democracy, reforme the police forces! and justice!of Cambodia!
Oh where has Lawyer Ang Udom been all this time. I had the same argument for a long time now. It is not a good sign for a client to have slow lawyer.
This is a joke.....fcken joke, stop wasting more money on the stupid ECCC just throw the animals Sary and Noun Chea and Duch in Prey Sar or reopen S21 and put them there to see how they feel.
AH Eang Sary and Mee Thirith you deserve death sentence or to be pushed in the latrine, head first!
A-CHOR and Mee Kandoy!
You are disgusting all AH Khmer Rouge leaders and AH Mao, AH HO!AH Pot!...
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