The Pre-Trial Chamber of the Khmer Rouge tribunal has ruled that investigating judge Marcel Lemonde cannot be dismissed, following a motion by defense attorneys for two jailed leaders of the regime claiming bias.
Defense lawyers for Ieng Sary, the regime’s foreign affairs minister, and Khieu Samphan, its head of state, had claimed Lemonde was biased in his pursuit of their client’s case.
Judges rejected the motion Wednesday.
“The request is not receivable,” the Pre-Trial Chamber said in its decision.
Meanwhile, investigating judges decided Tuesday they would pursue a line of “joint criminal enterprise” for four leaders of the regime.
Investigating judges are currently considering Case No. 2 of the UN-backed court, following the conclusion of the court’s first trial, of prison chief Kaing Kek Iev.
Joint criminal enterprise is a “liability mode” that seeks to prove crimes committed by one are the responsibility of others in a group, such as the Khmer Rouge leadership.
The Pre-Trial Chamber of the Khmer Rouge tribunal has ruled that investigating judge Marcel Lemonde cannot be dismissed, following a motion by defense attorneys for two jailed leaders of the regime claiming bias.
Defense lawyers for Ieng Sary, the regime’s foreign affairs minister, and Khieu Samphan, its head of state, had claimed Lemonde was biased in his pursuit of their client’s case.
Judges rejected the motion Wednesday.
“The request is not receivable,” the Pre-Trial Chamber said in its decision.
Meanwhile, investigating judges decided Tuesday they would pursue a line of “joint criminal enterprise” for four leaders of the regime.
Investigating judges are currently considering Case No. 2 of the UN-backed court, following the conclusion of the court’s first trial, of prison chief Kaing Kek Iev.
Joint criminal enterprise is a “liability mode” that seeks to prove crimes committed by one are the responsibility of others in a group, such as the Khmer Rouge leadership.