40 years ‘too short’ for Khmer Rouge prison chief say victims

PROSECUTORS in the genocide trial of a former Khmer Rouge prison chief demanded a 40-year jail sentence yesterday for a man they say is responsible for the killing of innocent people and spreading terror across Cambodia.

Victims of the Khmer Rouge regime called the requested sentence for Kaing Guek Eav unacceptable, with many saying prosecutors should have demanded a life sentence for the 67-year-old.

Kaing Guek Eav, aka Duch, commanded the notorious S-21 prison where those accused of disloyalty to the xeno- phobic communist regime were held. He oversaw the torture and execution of about 16,000 men, women and children.