The Absent Minded Witness and the Three Absent Ones

Today, during the trial of prison chief Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch), the Trial Chamber finished its questioning of Lach Mean, former interrogator and prison guard at S-21, and made further progress in its adoption of written witness evidence in lieu of oral testimony as a means of expediting trial procedures.

Inconsistent Testimony

The Chamber came into session slowly with visitors receiving a crude introduction to the sometimes tedious and administrative nature of justice. Once the questions were firmly underway it became apparent that Lach Mean, the witness, was not going to be forthcoming with information relating to his previous testimony. All three of the parties questioning him repeatedly introduced statements that he had made in previous interviews but which he often was unable to verify.

Lach Mean was asked about his role at S-21 and his interrogation of prisoners there. He responded that he was taught how to handle unresponsive prisoners and their weaker points, but denied that he had ever used violence in an interrogation. He stated that he had “no right” to beat up or torture prisoners and only threatened or scolded them instead. Such assertions were oddly juxtaposed with previous statements he had made in which he alleged that if a senior officer was unable to elicit a confession from a prisoner, the prisoner would be sent to him and he or she would confess immediately. Lach Mean denied ever having made such a statement and stood by his previous claim that he had interrogated only four prisoners “at most” …

Read more: ctm_blog_8-5-2009