‘Confidential’ Decision Made Over Swiss Investigating Judge

Friday, 20 January 2012
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

The Supreme Council of Magistracy has made a confidential decision over the nomination of a Swiss judge at the Khmer Rouge tribunal who has already said he wants more information on two controversial cases at the court made public.

The council met last week over the UN appointment of Laurent Kasper-Ansermet, who was put forward as a replacement for an international investigating judge who resigned last year citing political interference in cases 003 and 004.

Chea Leang, Cambodian prosecutor for the hybrid court, who attended the meeting, said a decision has been made but it is “confidential.”

Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana told the Phnom Penh Post Friday the decision has been forwarded to the Council of Ministers for approval.

A UN spokesman told VOA Khmer this week the government has an obligation to fill vacant posts at the court.

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee said Thursday “intervention” by the council to prevent the appointment of Kasper-Ansermet “ultimately violates the agreement between the Cambodian government and the United Nations.”

Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, could not confirm whether a decision from the Supreme Council of Magistracy had reached his council.