Duch's Cambodian Lawyer: Fears Punishment If He Comments on the December 3, 2007 Decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber

Kar Savuth, Duch’s defence lawyer, does not comment on the Pre-Trial Chamber’s judges’ verdict on December 3. “I would like not to comment anything," he said, adding that if he talked about that issue, he would be punished.

Reach Sambath claimed that it was the rights of lawyers to talk to the media. "We never prohibit [them] from speaking or punish them," he added.

Francois Ruox, Duch's Co-Lawyer, could not be reached for comment concerning the verdict.

It should be remembered that Judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber on the 20th and 21st of November 2007 held the hearing of appeal by Duch against the order of one-year provisional detention. However, the verdict will be released on December 3.

Unofficial Translation
-Extracted from Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol. 14, #3196, Friday, November 30, 2007