Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ASIA-PACIFIC
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Wednesday, 16 February, 2005, 07:55 GMT

KR commander loses last appeal

Chhouk Rin in court, 2003 Former Khmer Rouge commander Chhouk Rin has lost a final appeal against his conviction in connection with the 1994 murder of three Western tourists.

The five-judge panel said Chhouk Rin, who was not present in court, should be arrested and jailed immediately.

Chhouk Rin did not take part in the murders himself, the court decided.

But there was evidence he ordered his unit of Khmer Rouge fighters to join an attack on the train in which the three backpackers were taken, the court said.

"The... decision on the sentence of Chhouk Rin according to the anti-terrorism law is correct," said presiding judge Khim Pon.

"The Supreme Court decided to uphold the verdict," he added.

Mark Slater from Britain, Australian David Wilson and Jean-Michel Braquet from France were ambushed on a train travelling from Phnom Penh to the seaside resort of Sihanoukville.

The three men were killed when ransom negotiations with the government failed. Thirteen Cambodians also died.

At the time of the kidnapping, Chhouk Rin was a mid-ranking Khmer Rouge commander, although he had defected to the government by the time the foreigners' bodies were discovered.

Two Khmer Rouge commanders, senior to Chhouk Rin, are already serving life sentences over the deaths.

Chhouk Rin was originally sentenced in September 2002, but he was allowed to remain free while both his appeals were considered.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
KR commander appeals conviction (27 Oct 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
Cambodia guerrilla leader gets life (06 Sep 02 |  Asia-Pacific )
Khmer Rouge's legacy of fear (24 May 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
Key figures in the Khmer Rouge (17 Mar 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
Surviving the Khmer Rouge (24 Jan 03 |  Asia-Pacific )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Cambodia Web
Cambodian genocide programme
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©