Malaysian authorities have deported a former Cambodian police chief back to his home country after he lost a court battle to avoid extradition.
Heng Pov was put on a special flight Thursday from Malaysia to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, where authorities immediately took him to a court.
In September, a Cambodian court convicted the former Phnom Penh police chief in absentia and sentenced him to 18 years in prison for organizing the murder of a Cambodian judge in 2003.
Heng Pov fled Cambodia in July to Singapore and then to Malaysia, where authorities detained him for overstaying his visa. He had hoped to leave Malaysia for Finland, which offered him asylum on human rights grounds.
Heng Pov denies involvement in the judge's murder. He has warned that he could face torture or death if returned to Cambodia.
Heng Pov was put on a special flight Thursday from Malaysia to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, where authorities immediately took him to a court.
In September, a Cambodian court convicted the former Phnom Penh police chief in absentia and sentenced him to 18 years in prison for organizing the murder of a Cambodian judge in 2003.
Heng Pov fled Cambodia in July to Singapore and then to Malaysia, where authorities detained him for overstaying his visa. He had hoped to leave Malaysia for Finland, which offered him asylum on human rights grounds.
Heng Pov denies involvement in the judge's murder. He has warned that he could face torture or death if returned to Cambodia.