Lawyers for jailed Khmer Rogue leader Nuon Chea formally requested a new hearing for his pre-trial release Tuesday, following a cancellation Monday that stemmed from a procedural gaffe.
Nuon Chea, who was Pol Pot’s chief lieutenant, had a hearing canceled Monday because the only foreign lawyer present had not been sworn in by the Cambodian Bar Association, making him ineligible to represent his client.
The lawyer, Victor Koppe, formally apologized to the bar Monday and was to be sworn in Wednesday morning, clearing a way for a new hearing to decide whether Nuon Chea will be released ahead of his trial.
Nuon Chea’s Cambodian lawyer, Son Arun, said he had filed a request with the Pre-Trial Chamber of the tribunal to reschedule.
The Cambodian Bar Association agreed to an emergency swear-in after it received an official apology from Nuon Chea’s defense team, said Bar Association President Ky Tech.
Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said the hearing will be rescheduled as soon as possible.