"The long duration of the measures imposed since the investigation began on 19 November 2007, without proper justification, affects the Charged Person's right to be treated with humanity," according to the decision.

Tribunal detention center rules should dictate when and how the couple can meet, the court continued. However, the Cambodia Daily reports that special laws governing detention at the tribunal - which is under the auspices of the Interior Ministry - have not been drafted.

Whatever the ministry decides, the defendants probably won't be able to spend nights together, detention facility governor Kim Chuon told the Daily.

"They can just meet and ask a few words," he is quoted as saying. "Whether each other is sick or not."