Former Khmer Rouge Cadre Ao An Dead at 87
In this photo, spokesman for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Neth Pheaktra shows a picture of Ao An to people who visit Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Photo supplied.
- Phoung Vantha
- November 9, 2020 6:51 AM
Despite being acquitted by national judges at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) Ao An was high-ranking officer within the Khmer Rouge and widely believed to have been involved in the regime’s most atrocious crimes.
PHNOM PENH--Former Khmer Rouge cadre, Ao An passed away on Nov. 6 in Battambang Province, a spokesman for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal said.
Neth Pheaktra, spokesman for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, said on Nov. 8 that Ao An, who also a former suspect in Case 004, Part 2 of the Tribunal, died at the age of 87 in Kamrieng District, Battambang Province on Nov. 6, 2020.
In December 2019, Ao An was acquitted of genocide of the Cham and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, extermination, enslavement, imprisonment, torture, forced marriage, rape and forced labor.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) issued a split-decision on Ao An’s case on Dec. 19, 2019, with the two internationally-appointed judges arguing that the case should proceed to trial, whereas the three national judges at the ECCC vetoed the proposed trial, effectively allowing Ao An to walk free.
The case against Ao An was officially closed on Aug. 10, 2020, with Ao An maintaining that he was innocent and had never been a senior ranking member of the Khmer Rouge until his death.
