PHNOM PENH: The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) will announce its final verdict for Case 002/02 against the last top leader of the Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan, at 9:30 am on 22 September.

The verdict is being announced after the court held a direct hearing on the appeal from 16-19 August 2021.

Case 002/02 refers to the second trial against top Khmer Rouge leaders Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, with additional charges from the Closing Order in Case 002 heard as well.

In a decision announced by the ECCC on 4 April 2014, the following crime sites and factual allegations form the basis of Case 002/02: Genocide against the Cham and the Vietnamese minorities (excluding crimes committed by the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea on Vietnamese territory); Forced marriages and rape (nationwide); Internal purges; the S-21 Security Centre; the Kraing Ta Chan Security Centre, Au Kanseng Security Centre and Phnom Kraol Security Centre; the 1st January Dam Worksite; the Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction site, the Trapeang Thma Dam Worksite; the Tram Kok Cooperative; the Treatment of Buddhists (limited to Tram Kok Cooperatives); and the Targeting of former Khmer Republic Officials (implementation limited to Tram Kok Cooperatives, 1st January Dam Worksite, S-21 Security Centre and Kraing Ta Chan Security Centre).

Currently, only Khieu Samphan remains alive, while the case's co-defendant, Nuon Chea, died in August 2019.