The Khmer Rouge tribunal’s Pre-Trial Chamber on Monday overturned a January decision that removed the team of lawyers representing Meas Muth, the former Khmer Rouge navy chief and a suspect in the government-opposed Case 003.
The lawyers, Michael Karnavas and Ang Udom, had appealed a decision by International Co-Investigating Judge Mark Harmon that they could not represent Meas Muth because of a possible conflict of interest over their previous work as lawyers for the late Ieng Sary, who served as foreign minister during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Meas Muth retained the two lawyers in late 2012. Ieng Sary died in March 2013, midway through his crimes against humanity trial.
The new confidential ruling, which was obtained Monday, overturns Judge Harmon’s decision and “recognizes the engagement of Ang Udom and Michael Karnavas as co-lawyers for Meas Muth.”
Case 003, in which Meas Muth is under investigation for alleged war crimes, is opposed by the Cambodian government and Cambodian court officials.
