Special Cambodia Court – Wikipedia

The Special Cambodia Court for the persecution of crimes committed during the period of the democratic kampuchea , more known by the name of Special Court for Khmer Rossi It is a judicial body, established following an agreement between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the United Nations, in order to process the managers of the genocide perpetrated in Cambodian territory during the Pol Pot and Khmer Rossi regime.

The Court, etc. – Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, is “a national court supported by international staff and established in accordance with Cambodian laws” ^[first] It makes use of the UNAKRT – United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouges Trials, United Nations Detached Unit for Technical Assistance in the Rossi Khmer processes.

Based on the agreement stipulated between the UN and the Kingdom of Cambodia, the ECC will proceed the leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea and the alleged responsibilities of the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian criminal law, humanitarian law, of international conventions ratified by Cambodia, committed in the period between April 17, 1975 to 6 January 1979.

The Special Court follows a body of ad hoc laws for the special court, promulgated on 10 August 2001, and has jurisdiction on genocide crimes ^[2] , crimes against humanity ^[3] and serious violations of the Geneva conventions.

With the sentence of Kieu Samphan’s life imprisonment, which took place in 2022, the court begins a definitive dissolution phase which should end in 2025 ^[4] .

The Special Court is made up of courts and judicial offices (Chambers and Judiciary offices) and an administrative office (Office of Administration), all based in Phnom Penh. ^[5] The courts and judicial offices include:

• Preliminary chamber (PRE-Cial Chamber) composed of

Reserve judges: Pen Picksaly (Cambogia) and Steven J. Bwana (Tanzania)

• Judge chamber (Trial Chamber) composed of

Reserve judges: Claudia Fenz (Austria) and Thou Mony (Cambodia)

• Supreme Court Chamber)

Reserve judges: Florence Mumba (Zambia) and Sin Rith (Cambogia)

• Co-Procuratori Office (Office of the Co-Prosecutors) composed of the national prosecutor Chea Leang and the international prosecutor Andrew T. Cayley (Great Britain)
• Joint office of the investigative judges (Office of the Co-Investigative Judges) composed of the Cambodian You Bunleng and Mark Brian Harmon (United States)

The administrative office includes:

• Director’s Office (S.E. Kranh Tony) and deputy director office (Mr. Knut Rosandhaug) (Office of Director and Office of Deputy Director), who have skills on
• Chancellery (Court Management), Public Information (Public Affairs), Personnel (Personel), Technologies and TLC (ICT), Finance and Budget (Budget and Finance), General Services (General Services), Security and Defense (Security and Defense)
• Defense Support Section (Defense Support Section)
• Unit for civilian victims (Victim Unit)

Kang Kek IEW: Kang Kek Iw was one of the leaders of the Khmer Rossi, head of the Santebal unit who dealt with internal security and managing the prison camps. He also directed the sadly known prison Tuol Sleng (S-21) to Phnom Penh. Also known as “Comrade Duch” was the first of the five to be brought to court. The hearings of his trial began on September 17, 2009 and ended on November 27, 2010. On 26 July 2010 the court sentenced him to crimes against humanity, genocide and violations of the Geneva conventions. The initial 35 -year sentence was reduced between 1999 and 2007 given the period already spent in prison, following the illegal detention at the Military Court of Cambodia.

Nuon Chea: During the Khmer Non Chea regime it was the right hand of the leader Pol Pot. It was arrested in 2007, and the trial began in 2011. Among other things, he is accused of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, slavery, deportation , torture, etc.), genocide, and serious violations of the Geneva conventions of 1949 (voluntary murder, torture or inhuman treatment, deportation of civilians, etc.).

Ieng Sary: IENG SARY was arrested on November 12, 2007 on charges of having, acting or through omissions, planned, instigated, ordered, helped or supervised the crimes of the Khmer Rossi between 1975 and 1979. Among the accusations: crimes against the Humanity, genocide and violations of the Geneva conventions.

IEng Thirith: Iieng Thirith, wife of Iieng Sary and sister -in -law Pol Pot, was a member of Khmer Rossi, she was arrested together with her husband on November 12, 2007 on charges of being responsible for planning in the instigation of the Cambodians during the Khmer regime Rossi. Among the accusations, crimes against humanity, genocide and violations of the Geneva conventions. In November 2011 he was mentally unsuitable to be tried due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Samphan: Kieu Samphan has covered first -rate roles among the Rossi Khmer. He was arrested on November 12, 2007. On 22 September 2022 he was sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity, genocide and violations of the Geneva conventions ^[4] .