A Cambodian court on Wednesday sentenced former Khmer Rouge commander, Chhouk Rin to life imprisonment in absentia for his involment in the 1994 murders of 3 Western backpackers, along with 13 other cambodians in a train ambush travelling from Phnom Penh to Kampot province, and held for ransom for three months before being murdered.
The government authorities captured Chhouk Rin in Trapeang Prasat town, Udor Mean Chey province on Tuesday and sent him to Prey Sar prison Wednesday.
Chhouk Rin went into hiding since February after the Supreme Court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the deaths of Mark Slater of Britain, David Wilson of Australia, and Jean-Michel Braquet of France.
Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak called the capture a final phase of the ordeal after the two masterminds behind the ambush Nuon Paet and Sam Bith are in prison.
Chhuk Rin's wife, 36 year-old Yaem Sao said she knew about her husband's arrest from her neighbors and the radio. She said the arrest of her husband was very unfair, because she said the real planners behind the attack are still at large.
Civil societies complained that the government took more than eight months to capture Chhouk Rin who was found guilty but arrested a journalist and an NGO president immediately after they were accused.
Cambodian government officials said that the two cases are different.