The Khmer Rouge tribunal began its ninth plenary session yesterday, as judges and lawyers gathered to adopt amendments to the court’s internal rules.

Yesterday’s session was closed to the public, though in opening remarks, plenary and Supreme Court Chamber president Kong Srim said officials would focus this week on amendments to court rules “relating to the further streamlining of proceedings”.

“One of the significant amendments would allow for an efficient procedure in immediate appeals before the Supreme Court Chamber,” he said.

In July, the court handed down its first verdict, sentencing former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav to 30 years in prison for crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva

Conventions.

Both the prosecution and the defence have appealed against the verdict in the case, which will be heard by the tribunal’s Supreme Court Chamber from March 28-31. Kong Srim said the Supreme Court Chamber would then hand down a judgment “towards the end of June 2011”.