Khmer Rouge tribunal defendant Khieu Samphan is expected back in court today after a short stint in hospital.

Lars Olsen, spokesman for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, said the Trial Chamber was planning to hold a witness hearing, and that Samphan should be in attendance.

Samphan, the former Khmer Rouge head of state, was hospitalised on January 16.

One of his lawyers said at the time that he appeared to have a cold and needed rest, and according to the tribunal, he was having difficulties breathing. Samphan spent 10 days in the Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital before his release on Friday.

Samphan, 81, is the youngest of the former leaders on trial. In the past month, all three defendants — Samphan, Ieng Sary and Nuon Chea — have spent time in hospital.

Only Chea remains under care, after he was diagnosed with a case of acute bronchitis about halfway through the month. 

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Joe Freeman at [email protected]