Wife struggles to feed me, pleads Khmer accused

Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, sits in the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Pring Samrang/Pool (CAMBODIA)

The Star
April 23, 2008
Edition 4

Phnom Penh - The former Khmer Rouge head of state appeared before Cambodia's genocide tribunal for his first hearing today, where famed French lawyer Jacques Verges was expected to argue against his detention.

Khieu Samphan, who was detained by the UN-backed court in November on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, stood before head judge Prak Kimsan as he was asked to confirm his name, age, home town and job to the court, which was set up to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for genocide and crimes against humanity during their brutal 1975-1979 rule.

"I have had no job since leaving the jungle. (I have) only my wife, who struggles to feed me and my family," Samphan said in Khmer, referring to his 1998 defection from the then-dying Khmer Rouge guerrilla movement based in the remote northwest.

Samphan, whom court documents say is 76, was dressed in a light-grey shirt and trousers and spoke in a quiet, hoarse voice as he addressed the three Cambodian and two foreign judges, said a reporter.

The court then went into a closed-door session.

Verges, who has defended some of the world's most notorious figures including Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie and Venezuelan terrorist "Carlos the Jackal," is expected to argue that his client should be freed on bail while awaiting trial.

In documents submitted to the court during Samphan's detention, the prosecution said releasing him on bail could put the elderly defendant at risk of revenge attacks. and there's "a danger that he will flee".

Samphan, the last of five top regime leaders to be arrested and detained by the tribunal, has repeatedly denied his involvement in the atrocities. - Sapa-AFP