A former child guard at Duch’s Khmer Rouge prison told a UN-backed court Monday he had been ordered to bury prisoners after he was recruited form Kampong Chhnang province.
Chhun Phal, now 47, said he was ordered to dig a mass grave for dead Cambodians, including one who still wore shackles from the prison.
Duch, 66, whose real name is Kaing Kek Iev, is on trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and murder, for his role as head of Tuol Sleng prison, where prosecutors say 12,380 were sent to the their deaths.
Chhun Phal told the court he was ordered to dig a hole 2 meters by 3 meters that was as deep as his neck, but he could not remember how many bodies were buried in it.
His other duties including caring for prisoners by giving them baths, which he did sometimes while they remained shackled.
He also said he saw Duch beat a prisoner with a rattan stick.