The long-awaited opening trial of a former Khmer Rouge chief is set to start. The UN-backed genocide court in Pnom Pehn will hold its first hearing in the war crimes trial against former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, on 17 February.

Duch will be the first leader of Cambodia's 1975-1979 communist Khmer Rouge regime to stand trial at the tribunal (ECCC). He is one of five Khmer Rouge leaders who have been detained by the court for their alleged roles in Cambodia's Killing Fields.

Tuol Sleng
Duch was indicted last year for overseeing the torture and extermination of more than 12,380 men, women and children when he headed Phnom Penh's Tuol Sleng prison, known as S-21.

Duch was arrested in 1999 and transferred to the Cambodia tribunal last year.

The former mathematics teacher has consistently recognised his responsibility for the crimes committed at S21. He has expressed remorse to the victims and their families. Until now, he has cooperated willingly in the investigations.

Extraordinary Chambers
The Khmer Rouge tribunal - or Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) - which opened its doors in 2006, prosecutes international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It can also investigate murder, torture and religious prosecution under Cambodian law. The court's indictees were arrested over the past years.

'Brother Number Two', Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan, ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith, who was the minister of social affairs are awaiting trial before the court.

All suspects before the genocide court served as high level military in the Khmer Rouge regime, which implemented radical policies causing the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. Its leader Pol Pot never faced justice since he died in his jungle hideout in 1998.

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