PHNOM PENH - Prosecutors at the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal say Ieng Thirith, the former social affairs minister of the regime, should not be released “without conditions,” despite a ruling by the court she has dementia and is unfit to stand trial.
Prosecutors issued their appeal on Friday, prior to a deadline that would have seen the release of Ieng Thirith Friday morning. Prosecutors say the Trial Chamber of the tribunal “erred” in ordering her release without conditions and requested the Supreme Court review the conditions of he release.
Ieng Thirith was originally arrested in November 2007, with her husband, former foreign minister Ieng Sary. They were charged with atrocity crimes alongside the regime’s chief ideologue, Noun Chea, and its nominal head of state, Khieu Samphan.
All three of the men are now on trial for atrocity crimes, but medical examiners say Ieng Thirith is not mentally fit enough to participate in her own defense, a key requirement of the court.
In its appeal, prosecutors said Ieng Thirith should be remanded to house arrest and have her passport seized. They also said she should be refused visitation to any of the accused, except her husband. She should also undergo medical examination every six months to assess her mental capacity, prosecutors said.
The Supreme Court Chamber has 48 hours to consider the validity of the appeal, a tribunal spokesman said.
Prosecutors issued their appeal on Friday, prior to a deadline that would have seen the release of Ieng Thirith Friday morning. Prosecutors say the Trial Chamber of the tribunal “erred” in ordering her release without conditions and requested the Supreme Court review the conditions of he release.
Ieng Thirith was originally arrested in November 2007, with her husband, former foreign minister Ieng Sary. They were charged with atrocity crimes alongside the regime’s chief ideologue, Noun Chea, and its nominal head of state, Khieu Samphan.
All three of the men are now on trial for atrocity crimes, but medical examiners say Ieng Thirith is not mentally fit enough to participate in her own defense, a key requirement of the court.
In its appeal, prosecutors said Ieng Thirith should be remanded to house arrest and have her passport seized. They also said she should be refused visitation to any of the accused, except her husband. She should also undergo medical examination every six months to assess her mental capacity, prosecutors said.
The Supreme Court Chamber has 48 hours to consider the validity of the appeal, a tribunal spokesman said.
