There is no substantial evidence that Minister for Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong interfered in Case 002 proceedings at the Khmer Rouge tribunal by making a public comment on his involvement in the regime, prosecutors at the tribunal have argued.

In a filing published yesterday, the co-prosecutors slammed the defence team of Brother No 2 Nuon Chea for making “tenuous arguments in attempts to manufacture an appearance of interference” by Namhong.

Nuon Chea’s defence has requested that judges rebuke Namhong for his comment, published in the Post and local media, alleging it interfered with witness testimony.

A witness whom under oath testified Namhong was “in charge of” Boeung Trabek detention centre later recanted his testimony after the comment had been published.

Prosecutors chastised the defence lawyers for attempting to “embroil the Trial Chamber’s scant time and resources unnecessarily”.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bridget Di Certo at [email protected]