Im Chaem, the former Khmer Rouge district commander named in charges at the Khmer Rouge tribunal this week, says she will refuse to appear in court. In an interview with VOA Khmer, she said she has been wrongly accused.
“They charged me wrongly,” she said in a phone interview. “I did not commit any wrongdoing. I will not appear at the court.”
The international investigating judge at the UN-backed court, however, wants to charge her with numerous war crimes, for her work at a security center and work camp.
The charges, announced Tuesday, accompanied similar charges against Meas Muth, the former head of the Khmer Rouge navy. Contacted Wednesday, his son, Meas Sophas, declined to comment on the case.
But his lawyer, Ang Udom, told VOA Khmer he preparing Meas Muth’s defense. “We are preparing the case file,” Ang Udom said. “We got access to the case file today.”