Foreign Office Minister welcomes outcome of Khmer Rouge trial
Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne has congratulated the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on an "excellent outcome" for the case against Kaing Guek Eav, alias, Duch.
The Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) convicted Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, in July 2010 of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to 35 years in prison, reduced by 5 years on account of a seven year period in which Duch was judged to have been illegally detained by the Cambodian military.
Both the defence and the prosecution appealed, and on 3 February, the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia announced its verdict in the appeal hearing. The ECCC rejected Duch’s appeal and found in favour of the prosecution, increasing Duch’s sentence to life.
Speaking today the Foreign Office Minister said:
“I welcome today’s verdict and congratulate the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on an excellent outcome for the case against Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch. Challenging impunity and ensuring accountability is a cornerstone of international justice, and is a core UK value. Thank you to the judges and staff of the Chambers, who worked hard to deliver justice, often in difficult circumstances. My thoughts are with the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime and their families, who have seen justice done. I continue to support the Chambers’ work in closing the darkest chapter in Cambodia’s history.”