Municipal Court Judge Thong Ol’s verdict that pronounced Chhouk Rin a free man prompted the former Khmer Rouge commander’s friends to burst into applause, while the parents of the victims’ families shook their heads in dismay.
Chhouk Rin, who controversially defected to the government just 10 weeks after the train attack of which he was accused of leading, addressed reporters briefly as he was escorted out of the courtroom by about a dozen military police officers.
“I believe that our courts are independent and are not subject to political pressure,” he said with a smile as reporters crowded around him. “Our country has a real state of law.”
Dorothy Slater, the mother of Mark Slater, said she was extremely disappointed by the judge’s decision given the amount of evidence presented that proved Chhouk Rin was involved in the train attack and killings.
“I don’t think justice has been done because he did murder people,” she said. “I have no idea what I’m going to do now.”
Both supporters and accusers of Chhouk Rin said they predicted the judge would convict Chhouk Rin on at least some of the charges and would receive a prison sentence.
Kek Galabru, president of the local human rights group Licadho, said she was shocked by the verdict because she thought the court would condemn Chhouk Rin and he would get a prison sentence of at least 10 years.
“I didn’t know this (immunity) law was going to be used,” said Kek Galabru, who attended the trial. “I feel sorry because it’s just another case of impunity in Cambodia.”
One Western legal expert, however, said she was pleased that the courts actually followed the law this time. Before Tuesday’s proceedings began, she said she fully expected an unfair trial and that the verdict would be pre-written.
“This is the law,” she said. “Former Khmer Rouge who defected have immunity. The law is clear.”
Before the trial began, Jean Claude Braquet said he was disgusted by the crime and how the case has been handled. He said he wanted Chhouk Rin to receive at least a 30-year prison sentence.
“I’ve been waiting for this for six years,” he said as he walked into the courtroom. “Everyone knows Chhouk Rin was responsible for the hostage crisis.”
After the verdict was announced, he left the courtroom quickly without speaking to reporters.
Yem Souv, Chhouk Rin’s wife, said she was thrilled because her husband finally got justice.
“I’m glad he got his freedom,” she said.
Yim Sary, a lawyer for the Braquet family, said he couldn’t publicly say everything he thought about the trial and verdict.
“It’s a political issue and I can’t say anything more,” he said.
Co-Minister of Defense Prince Sisowath Sirirath said he didn’t have a comment on the verdict because it’s up to the courts, but he noted the decision showed that the courts are democratic.
“The trial showed that democracy in our country is going well,”
Keo Samuon, a three-star RCAF general and commander of Military Region 3, which includes Kampot province, said it is good that Chhouk Rin is free “because if nobody is in prison, then nobody is angry.
“We should try to forget all this because of national reconciliation,” Keo Samuon of the CPP said. “Now we can all stay in society and focus on developing the country together.”
Chhouk Rin will likely return home to Phnom Voar today and Thong Ol ordered that all the possessions seized from him should be returned.
(Additional reporting by Phann Ana)
