.jpg "Nuon Chea's lawyer says he's ready for Hun Sen complaints")
PHNOM PENH (Herald) - The foreign lawyer defending Nuon Chea, the former deputy to Pol Pot known as Brother Number Two of the Khmer Rouge regime, said Monday he was ready for complaints from Prime Minister Hun Sen who has asked his legal team to consider a lawsuit against him.
"I am confident that I will be able to explain everything. I am ready for the complaints," said Dutch lawyer Michiel Pestman.
He added that Hun Sen could not say whatever he liked about Nuon Chea, who has been charged by the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal with crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
"While my client is still in court, that is affecting my client's rights," said the lawyer, refering to Hun Sen's reported comments to Vietnamese media during a trip to Vietnam in early January.
Pestman said Hun Sen should wait for the verdict before commenting on the case, adding that the prime minister should respect the law and could not be above the law.
Hun Sen last week told his legal team to consider action against Pestman for accusing him of interfering in the trial of Nuon Chea and two other senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
Keo Remy, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said Monday that Pestman wanted to be famous for attacking Hun Sen.
However, Pestman denied the accusation, saying that he did not care about fame.
On January 10, the Dutch lawyer accused Hun Sen of making statements that "prejudice our client and violate his rights to a fair trial", urging Khmer Rouge tribunal judges to "officially condemn these statements ... and ask the prime minister to refrain from such remarks in the future."
"I am confident that I will be able to explain everything. I am ready for the complaints," said Dutch lawyer Michiel Pestman.
He added that Hun Sen could not say whatever he liked about Nuon Chea, who has been charged by the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal with crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
"While my client is still in court, that is affecting my client's rights," said the lawyer, refering to Hun Sen's reported comments to Vietnamese media during a trip to Vietnam in early January.
Pestman said Hun Sen should wait for the verdict before commenting on the case, adding that the prime minister should respect the law and could not be above the law.
Hun Sen last week told his legal team to consider action against Pestman for accusing him of interfering in the trial of Nuon Chea and two other senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
Keo Remy, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said Monday that Pestman wanted to be famous for attacking Hun Sen.
However, Pestman denied the accusation, saying that he did not care about fame.
On January 10, the Dutch lawyer accused Hun Sen of making statements that "prejudice our client and violate his rights to a fair trial", urging Khmer Rouge tribunal judges to "officially condemn these statements ... and ask the prime minister to refrain from such remarks in the future."
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