Khmer Rouge war trial suspended

Ieng Sary. (Photograph: Reuters)

May 21 2012
AFP

Judges at Cambodia's Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal suspended proceedings on Monday as the oldest of the three former regime leaders on trial remained in hospital suffering from bronchitis.

Ieng Sary, 86, was rushed to hospital with breathing difficulties on Thursday afternoon. The hearing continued without him until the court, which does not sit on Fridays, adjourned for the weekend.

Ieng Sary is the most frail of the trio in the dock for their roles in the deaths of up to two million people in the late 1970s.

He will be discharged on Tuesday at the earliest, according to a doctor's report read out in court Monday which said the regime's former foreign minister had “strong bronchitis, which comes on top of existing cardiovascular issues”.

Ieng Sary still unwell, in hospital

Ieng Sary. (Photograph: Reuters)

Monday, 21 May 2012
Vong Sokheng and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Officials remained tight-lipped yesterday about the whereabouts and health of former Khmer Rouge Minister for For­­­eign Affairs Ieng Sary.

The 86-year-old was rushed to hospital in the middle of proceedings on Thursday at the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

Chhoeung Yovyan, deputy president of the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, where Ieng Sary was admitted with breathing difficulties, yesterday refused to release any information because he had been rebuked by the tribunal.

Ieng Sary hospitalized at Calmette Hospital

29 April 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

According to Reach Sambath, the former KR minister of Foreign Affairs left his jail cell for a “routine exam.”

Ieng Sary was hospitalized at Calmette Hospital on Wednesday 29 April at 10AM, Reach Sambath, the ECCC public affair officer, announced on the sideline of Duch’s trial.

According to Reach Sambath, the former KR diplomatic chief must undergo a “routine medical exam.” He indicated that Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan would also be examined in the upcoming days, after authorization from the judge.

“Regarding Ieng Thirith [Ieng Sary’s wife who is also incarcerated at the ECCC], nothing has been decided yet, but there shouldn’t be any problem,” Reach Sambath added.

The health condition of Ieng Sary – who suffers from high blood pressure and whose blood was found in his urine on several occasions – is one of the main defense strategies used by his lawyers. The latter complained that they could not have access to their client when he is under medical care.

Last 26 February, Ieng Sary was not able to be present during his hearing, following 2 days of hospitalization at the Calmette Hospital.

KRouge leader Ieng Sary hospitalised indefinitely: officials [-Will he croak before facing justice?]

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Detained Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary, one of five top regime cadres expected to face a UN-backed trial over Cambodia's 1970s genocide, has been hospitalised indefinitely, officials said Monday.

The 82-year-old former foreign minister for the regime was taken last week to hospital where doctors "rechecked his health" after a series of scares earlier this year, said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath.

He will remain hospitalised for "a period of time in order that the doctors can monitor his health," Reach Sambath told AFP.

"The illness is not threatening his life," he added.

Ieng Sary's lawyer Ang Udom confirmed that he had been in hospital.

"I don't know what illness he is suffering from this time," he said, adding that it was not clear when Ieng Sary would be discharged and sent back to detention.

Ieng Sary was hospitalised in late January for treatment of a chronic heart condition. He was in hospital again earlier this month, spending a week under treatment after he began urinating blood.

Ieng Sary has suffered from deteriorating health since his arrest last November, according to his lawyer, highlighting the fragile condition of the tribunal's likely defendants who are mostly in their 70s and 80s.

Their condition has increasingly raised fears that some will not live long enough to be brought to trial for crimes committed during the 1975-79 regime.

Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork, or were executed by the Khmer Rouge, which dismantled modern Cambodian society in its effort to forge a radical agrarian utopia during its ultra-communist rule.

Ieng Sary Hospitalized

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 February 2008

Jailed Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary was hospitalized Monday for treatment of a urinary tract problem, officials said Tuesday.

The former foreign minister of the regime was rushed to the hospital after urinating blood, and he remained in the hospital Tuesday.

Lawyer Ang Udom said his client should not be kept at a tribunal detention center ahead of his atrocity crimes trials.

“We complained about the detention because of his health, because the prison conditions are not good,” Ang Udom said.

Ieng Sary, 82, suffers from heart problems and has been to the hospital twice in 10 days, tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said.

Ieng Sary was being kept at Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh to be monitored, Reach Sambath said.

“The persons to decide whether he should stay in or out of jail are the five judges from the Khmer Rouge tribunal, following a hearing,” Reach Sambath said.