A look at who’s on trial at Cambodia’s war crimes tribunal, 30 years after the regime’s fall

Who’s on trial at Cambodia’s war crimes tribunal

The former chief of the Khmer Rouge’s main prison and torture facility was convicted Monday of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 35 years in prison, ending the first case before a U.N.-backed tribunal since the regime’s fall 30 years ago. Four other former leaders of the regime are awaiting trials, expected to start later this year.

Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, 67. He will serve only 19 years of the tribunal’s 35-year sentence because he has spent 11 years in detention awaiting trial.

Duch (pronounced DOIK) ran the notorious Tuol Sleng — or S-21 — detention center in Phnom Penh. He admitted to overseeing the deaths of up to 16,000 men, women and children during the regime’s 1975-1979 rule that left 1.7 million dead.

Duch was accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes, premeditated murder and torture and faced a maximum of life in prison. Prosecutors had requested a 40-year sentence, arguing that he had admitted guilt and expressed remorse.

Nuon Chea, 84. The Khmer Rouge’s chief ideologist, known as “Brother No. 2.” He was second in command to Pol Pot, the top leader who died in 1998. He is accused of crimes against humanity, genocide, homicide, torture and religious persecution.

He denies guilt and says he is not a “cruel” man but acted as a “patriot.”

Khieu Samphan, 79. The regime’s former head of state. He is accused of crimes against humanity, homicide, torture and religious persecution. He has denied responsibility for the atrocities and blames Pol Pot for the group’s policies. In his 2004 memoir he says he was only a “shell” for the Khmer Rouge and had nothing to do with its radical policies.

Ieng Sary, 85. The Khmer Rouge’s former foreign minister. He is accused of crimes against humanity, genocide, homicide, torture and religious persecution. He disputes the charges and has demanded his guilt be proven.

Ieng Sary and his wife were part of Pol Pot’s inner circle that made key decisions. He is accused of persuading diplomats and intellectuals based overseas to return to Cambodia. Most of the returnees were executed.

Ieng Thirith, 78. The wife of Ieng Sary, a sister-in-law of Pol Pot’s and the regime’s minister of social affairs. She is accused of involvement in the “planning, direction, coordination and ordering of widespread purges” and has been charged with crimes against humanity, genocide, homicide, torture and religious persecution. She has called the charges “100 percent false.”