The Khmer Rouge tribunal’s trial chamber yesterday swatted down a request from the Khieu Samphan defence team to release the ex-head of state on bail, arguing the risk that the 81-year-old “may abscond” was still very real.

In their original filing, the Samphan defence said it was “absurd to imagine” that the elderly defendant could go back and live in the jungle.

However, the Trial Chamber in yesterday’s filing stated that Samphan “may consider flight to be a real option when faced with the prospect of a lengthy sentence of imprisonment, should he be convicted”.