Khmer Rouge chief jailed over 14,000 deaths - Jul 2010
Former head of prison gets 19-year jail term; sentence branded 'a joke'
[LINKHOTTED]
Former Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, also known as "Duch," showed no emotion as the verdict was read.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia ? A U.N.-backed tribunal sentenced a senior Khmer Rouge commander to 35 years in prison on Monday in its first verdict on the "Killing Fields" revolution blamed for 1.7 million deaths in Cambodia three decades ago. But 67-year-old Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, will only serve 19 years after the court subtracted 16 years for time already served ? short of the maximum 40 years sought by the prosecution and the life behind bars many Cambodians demanded.
The former schoolteacher admitted during the eight-month trial to overseeing the torture and the killing of more than 14,000 people but said he was only following orders. "We hoped this tribunal would strike hard at impunity but if you can kill 14,000 people and serve only 19 years ? 11 hours per life taken ? what is that? It's a joke," said Theary Seng, a Cambodian who is now a U.S.-national and lost his father at the Tuol Sleng prison run by Duch. "My gut feeling is this has made the situation far worse for Cambodia," he said.
Duch betrayed no emotion as the verdict was read. Some Cambodians wept loudly in the courtroom. He was found
guilty of murder, torture, rape, inhumane acts, crimes against humanity and other charges for running Tuol Sleng, a converted school also known as S-21.
LINK
What a fucking joke. This asshole should be executed on the spot. Don't know how many of you have seen "S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine", but it's a good documentary about S-21, albeit entirely in Cambodian w/subtitles.