Case 002 Witnesses, experts and Civil Parties

TCW-604, Mr Sao Sarun was born in Kaoh Moueleu Village, Peam Chi Miet Commune, Kaoh Nheaek District, Mondolkiri Province. He does not know his date of birth and suggests he might be around 90 years old. The witness first appeared before the chamber in June 2012 to testify on Case 002. The witness testified for a second time via video link in March 2016. He joined the Communist Party of Kampuchea in 1968 and was appointed district chief three years later. He said the secretary of district 105, Laing, died in a fight in Phnom Penh. The witness heard about the incident through another cadre who was in Phnom Penh at the time and was later sent to S-21.  According to the witness, a few months after the death of Laing, in late 1977, Pol Pot appointed him as the secretary of district 105 at a meeting where Son Sen, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea were also present. He explained that during the same meeting they also discussed the war with Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge leaders discussed attacks and incursions into Vietnam. Mr Sao Sarun testified that policies were set by the party and he was not in a position to create his own. According to the witness, in sector 105, wives and children were never arrested along with husbands. 

Mr. KHOEM is currently residing in Bourei Cholsar District, Takeo province. He told the Trial Chamber that he used to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Sar was the deputy director of the national Bank during Democratic Kampuchea.

Mr. NY was one of Son Sen's brothers.

Dr. Lim is a medical doctor in the emergency section at the Khmer Soviet Friendship hospital.

Mr. KREAN is a member of the Kravet ethnic group, and during his testimony he said that he joined the revolutionary movement in 1966 while living in Rattanakiri province. He told that he used to work as messenger for Koy Thuon.

Mr. SALOTH was the nephew of Pol Pot. He is a retired soldier, currently residing in Malai. During his testimony, Mr. SALOTH told the court that he held the postion assumed the postion as secretary-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the fall of Phnom Penh.

Mr. SAUT told the Trial Chamber that he used to work as a bodyguard and messenger for Nuon Chea.

Mr. KAING Guek Eav alias Duch was sentenced to life imprisonment on 3 February 2012 for his role as Deputy and later Chairman of S-21 security center in Phnom Penh. He was called to testify in Case 002. Fore more information about KAING Guek Eav: http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/indicted-person/kaing-guek-eav

Mr. CHHANG is the Director of the Documentation center of Cambodia (DC-CAM).

Mr. VANTHAN is the Deputy Director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-CAM).

Mr. ROMAM lives in Andoung Meas district, Rattanakiri province. He told the court that once he joined the revolutionaty movement he first worked as a messenger. Later he was promoted to village chief, and subsequently to commune chief and district chief.

Mr. Long is a resident of Malai in Battambang province. He told the court that he used the work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the fall of Phnom Penh. He testified via video link.

Mr. Klan, from Ta  Lav village in Rattanakiri  is a member of the Kachok ethnic group. He told the court that after he joined the revolutionary movement he worked as a messanger, and tha he later become commune chief and deputy secretary of his district.

Mr. Him Huy was called as a witness to testify on the functioning of S-21.

A Khmer rouge soldier since 1972 or 1973, Him Huy started to work at S-21 as a guard in late 1976. There he became part of the special unit operating under the defence unit and was responsible for the arrest and transfer of detainees. With the intensification of internal purges at S-21, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of the special unit in charge of security matters at S-21 in 1977. He claims that he was transferred to build dykes in the rice fields at Prey Sar in 1978.

As a witness, Him Huy mainly testified on the arrests procedure at S-21, including the arrest of S-21 personnel, the detention conditions, and the executions of S-21 prisoners. He told the Trial Chamber that he was in charge of the transport of detainees to Choeung Ek where executions took place beginning in 1977, but that he had himself only executed one prisoner there.

Him Huy also addressed the role of the Accused at S-21. He stated that "Duch was the only one to give orders" at S-21, and that he was scared of him: "Frankly, when I see him, it reminds me of the moment I had worked with him. I did not dare to look at him [Ö] and even now, Iím fearful of him". He recounted how S-21 personnel were put "on high alert" once purges inside the prison had begun.

A lawyer assisted Him Huy in case an issue of self-incrimination arose. However, Him Huy did not invoke his right to remain silent.