(RTTNews) – The hearings on an appeal filed by former Khmer Rouge jailer Kaing Khev Iev, alias Duch, against his conviction on crimes against humanity began at the Cambodia’s UN-backed war crimes tribunal on Monday, with defense lawyers arguing that the tribunal does not have jurisdiction to convict their client.
The defense lawyers argued during Monday’s hearing that their client was only following orders when he oversaw the deaths of some 15,000 people at Tuol Sleng torture prison in the late 1970s. They insisted that Duch was obliged to carry out orders as he was only a low-ranking official in the regime.
But the prosecution stressed that the defense should made such an argument when Duch’s trial began in early 2009, and reminded the court that it has already found Dutch to be one among those responsible for the regime’s crimes.
“In addition, Duch himself frequently acknowledged his responsibility for crimes committed within the framework of S-21 as chief of the center,” prosecutor Chea Leang said referring to the Tuol Sleng torture prison.
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