Phnom Penh - The prosecution at Cambodia's war crimes tribunal called Tuesday for judges to hand down a lengthy jail term to Comrade Duch, the former commander of the Khmer Rouge's most notorious prison. Co-prosecutor Chea Leang said the evidence showed that Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, was guilty of a series of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"The crimes are of such extreme seriousness and afflicted so many people that it is inconceivable that anything other than a lengthy prison sentence be imposed on him," she said.
Sentencing in Duch's trial is due to take place early next year. There is no death penalty in Cambodia, and he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Duch, who appeared in court in a crumpled beige jacket and pale trousers, ran the infamous torture and execution centre known as S-21 in Phnom Penh where at least 15,000 people died between 1975-79. Very few inmates survived.
Chea Leang said that far from being the mere functionary he had tried to portray himself as, Duch was in fact the key intelligence operative for the Khmer Rouge as they sought out real and imaginary enemies of the revolution.
"He was the [Khmer Rouge's] trusted man to identify supposed plots against the revolution and to root out enemies," Chea Leang said.
She said he was "indifferent to the suffering of the victims" at S-21, and that the crimes committed there were "among the gravest" heard at any international trial.
Thousands of people were tortured and killed at S-21. Witnesses at the trial this year have told how some prisoners had their blood entirely drained, while others suffered simulated drowning, electrocution and beatings.
When prisoners were sent for execution, most were taken to Chhoeung Ek, better known internationally as one of the Killing Fields, which lies 15 kilometres outside Phnom Penh.
"At what point did the victims know they were about to be executed?" Chea Leang asked. "Surely they must have known as they were let out one by one and forced to kneel next to the pits, that their lives were at an end."
The defence and Duch himself are scheduled to address the court later this week.
On Monday, lawyers for the civil parties, a collection of 90 people who are predominantly relatives of prisoners who were murdered at S-21, presented their closing arguments.
Duch has testified during the 72-day trial that he was simply following orders and had almost no power to help detainees sent to S-21.
Four senior surviving leaders are currently in jail and awaiting trial.
The Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979 before being forced out of power by neighbouring Vietnam. Around 2 million people died of starvation and disease or were executed under the radical regime.
