Tribunal hearing

A hearing will likely be held next month to evaluate reports from experts on the health of former Khmer Rouge Social Action Minister Ieng Thirith following the completion yesterday of an additional medical examination to assess her fitness to stand trial, one of her defence lawyers said. “The Trial Chamber will likely conduct a hearing on the health report in late October and at that time if the report is correct about her situation then I will not appeal,” Phat Pouv Seang, defence counsel for 79-year-old Ieng Thirith, said yesterday. He added that a report on the medical assessment could be submitted to the Trial Chamber by next week. Ieng Thirith is one of four suspects facing charges including genocide and crimes against  humanity at the Khmer Rouge tribunal for her alleged role in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people from 1975 to 1979. A geriatrician who examined Ieng Thirith testified in hearings last month that she had “significant cognitive impairment”, an “underlying dementing illness” due “most likely” to Alzheimer’s disease, and would have “great difficulty” testifying in her own defence. Court spokesman Lars Olsen told the Post last week that psychiatric experts had been appointed to assess Ieng Thirith.