LENG Chhoeung
Pseudonym: TCW-384
Cases: Case 002/01
Category: Witness
Background information
Joining the Revolution
Leng Chhoeung recalled that he joined the revolution in 1973 in Takeo province at the age of 10,
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upon which he had to comply with their orders and finish the assigned tasks.
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He missed his home village and parents so much that he would cry out loud, but he had no choice.
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In 1976, he was transferred to Phnom Penh, where he first stayed at the Khmer-Soviet Technical School.
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Thereafter he was assigned to work in Office K-12
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and was tasked to clean the city and bring waste to Stueng Meanchey dumpsite.
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He worked as Khieu Samphan’s driver from 1978 to 1979.
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Office K 3 and Khieu Samphan’s residence
Leng Chhoeung noted that there were three entrances leading to Office K-3, and two of the entrances were blocked along the roads from Ou Ruessei Market to the Royal Place.
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In the K-3 compound there were about 20 or 30 houses, many of which were abandoned.
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Only some houses in good condition were used.
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There were between 10 and 20 people working in K-3 Office.
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Despite eating separately, they all had enough food to eat.
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Leng Chhoeung testified that Khieu Samphan lived in Office K-3.
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There were tables and sofas for receiving guests, and a hammock inside the house for Khieu Samphan to rest after returning from work.
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Khieu Samphan did not have any secretary, but he had a telephone inside his house to use.
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Based on this testimony, the Trial Chamber accepted that some of leaders communicated with each other by telephone.
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Khieu Samphan’s wife also lived and worked as a cook in K-3.
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Leng Chhoeung lived in a house about 10 meters away from Khieu Samphan’s.
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Nuon Chea’s house was on the other side of the road from Khieu Samphan’s house.
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Ieng Sary’s house was located along the block of Nuon Chea’s, and he came regularly to K-3 Office as well.
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Leng Chhoeung testified that Vorn Vet went to Office K-3 once in a while.
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Although he never saw Pol Pot in person at Office K-3, he did see Pol Pot’s car there.
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Khieu Samphan’s roles
Leng Chhoeung learned from the radio broadcast that Khieu Samphan was the President of a State Presidium.
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He could hear announcements through loudspeakers upon driving along the road.
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He delivered letters to Khieu Samphan.
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He also drove Khieu Samphan to K-1 Office to meet Nuon Chea and Pol Pot.
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He recalled that Khieu Samphan met with diplomats and received their letters of credence.
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He added that after April 1978 Khieu Samphan no longer received any senior delegations.
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Khieu Samphan’s trips inside and outside Phnom Penh
Leng Chhoeung’s main duty was to drive Khieu Samphan.
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He did not need any authorization letters as he just followed what Khieu Samphan said.
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He drove Khieu Samphan to his office about 50 or 100 meters away from his house.
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He also took Khieu Samphan around the vicinity of Phnom Penh
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to Chraing Chamres, but not Boeng Trabek.
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In 1978, he took Khieu Samphan to the Olympic Stadium event, which was presided over by Pol Pot.
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Although he did not recall driving Khieu Samphan to Borei Keila and the Khmer Soviet institute, the Chamber was “satisfied that he [Khieu Samphan] did in fact attend and hold political training sessions at Borei Keila and the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Institute of Technology”.
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He also drove Khieu Samphan outside of Phnom Penh on several occasions,
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including to Kandal and Takeo provinces.
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Although the Chamber found his statements credible and consistent, it added “this evidence does not preclude visits to the Airfield by car before the time LENG Chhoeung became the Accused’s driver in 1978 or by any other transportation means at any given time”.
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At about 7 p.m. on 6 January 1979 he drove Khieu Samphan out of Phnom Penh, and stopped at Pursat provincial hall to meet with Pol Pot and Nuon Chea. Thereafter he drove to Battambang and Pailin.
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