PHNOM PENH: The Former Head of State of the Democratic Kampuchea, Khieu Samphan, has been transferred from the building of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Sangkat Choam Chao, Khan Por Sen Chey to the Kandal Provincial Prison, following the tribunal's official closure.

Khmer Rouge Tribunal Spokesperson, Net Pheaktra, confirmed to EAC News on Wednesday, 1 February 2023, that Khieu Samphan was transferred to Kandal Provincial Prison to serve his sentence, in accordance with an agreement made between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations. The National Convention stipulates that those found guilty before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) should continue to serve their sentences in national prisons.

"The Kandal Provincial Prison is an appropriate prison for Khieu Samphan to continue to serve his life sentence," he said.

The Spokesperson added that Khieu Samphan's transfer to Kandal Provincial Prison does not mean that he will be transferred into another cell, as was the case for Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch), former Tuol Sleng prison chief, who died on 2 September 2020.

Khieu Samphan, the last surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge, was transferred back to Kandal Provincial Prison after the Khmer Rouge tribunal site was handed over back to the Royal Cambodian Army on 28 December 2022.

In the past 16 years of the tribunal's functioning, many achievements were made, including numerous top leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea totalitarian state being sentenced to life imprisonment.

Khieu Samphan was arrested on 19 November 2007 and detained under the jurisdiction of the co-investigating judges on charges of involvement in crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime.

In August 2014, the Trial Chamber convicted Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea of crimes against humanity for the persecution, murder and other inhumane acts committed during the forced evacuation of civilians from Phnom Penh and other towns.

In November 2018, the Trial Chamber convicted Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan of genocide, crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions for acts such as persecution, enslavement, detention, inhumane acts, forced marriage, rape, torture, murder, massacre, and forced disappearances.

Both defendants were sentenced to life in prison in the second trial. In August 2019, Nuon Chea passed away, leading to the termination of his proceedings, but on 22 September 2022, the ECCC upheld Khieu Samphan's sentence of life imprisonment.