Judge says will quit KRouge court if unable to work

Marcel Lemonde, seen here in 2007, the French investigating judge at Cambodia's troubled Khmer Rouge war crimes court, told reporters Wednesday he would quit his post if he sensed interference in his work.(AFP/File/Tang Chhin Sothy)



PHNOM PENH (AFP) – The French investigating judge at Cambodia's troubled Khmer Rouge war crimes court told reporters Wednesday he would quit his post if he sensed interference in his work.

The UN-backed tribunal, which is currently trying the regime's former prison chief Duch, has been plagued by allegations of political interference by the government and claims that Cambodian staff had to pay kickbacks for jobs.

"I came here to work as a judge... The day I will not be able to work anymore, I will leave," said investigating judge Marcel Lemonde at a press conference.

The UN has withheld funds to Cambodian operations at the court in absence of an agreement to stop the alleged corruption, however the global body's talks with senior government officials have ended without a deal.

Lemonde and co-investigating judge You Bunleng said their office had so far interviewed over 450 witnesses, but their work on the court's second case against four senior leaders would not be completed before the end of the year.

"We are very aware of the necessity to complete the investigation as soon as possible. Our goal is to complete it by the end of 2009," Lemonde said.

However he added "this goal is a very ambitious one, given the complexity of the file".

Two investigators have also been in France since last week to interview witnesses, court officials said.

Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998 before facing justice, and fears over the health of ageing suspects hang over the court.

Former Khmer Rouge ideologue Nuon Chea, head of state Khieu Samphan, foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife, minister of social affairs Ieng Thirith are in detention awaiting the court's second trial.

The long-awaited first trial has heard Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, acknowledge responsibility and beg forgiveness for overseeing the torture and execution of more than 15,000 people at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison.

Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation, disease and overwork as the Khmer Rouge movement emptied cities and enslaved the population on collective farms in its bid to create a communist utopia.