Two former top Khmer Rouge leaders - Khieu Samphan, 85, and Noun Chea, 90. (Photo: AP) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on November 23 decided to uphold the life sentence for two former top Khmer Rouge leaders.
Khieu Samphan, 85, and Noun Chea, 90, were accused of crimes against humanity and genocide in Cambodia in 1975-1979 period, which was responsible for the death of at least 1.7 million people.
In 2014, the two were given life sentence with crimes against humanity by the ECCC. They are also undergone another trial for genocide of ethnic and foreign minorities.
In the November 23 judgement, the tribunal said the 2014 verdict for them was “appropriate”, given the gravity of the crimes and roles of the two defendants.
In 2010, the ECCC declared life sentence to Kiang Guek Eav, known as Duch, former chief of the Tuol Sleng prison (S-21) for crimes against humanity and genocide.
The UN-backed tribunal was set up in 2006 to seek justice for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.-VNA
