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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 23, 2002

Ex-DK Commander Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

The Phnom Penh municipal court Monday sentenced former Democratic Kampuchea (DK) commander Sam Bith to life imprisonment for the crimes of abduction and murder of three western tourists in 1994.


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The Phnom Penh municipal court Monday sentenced former Democratic Kampuchea (DK) commander Sam Bith to life imprisonment for the crimes of abduction and murder of three western tourists in 1994.

The court announced Sam Bith was guilty and sentenced to life in prison with six different crimes, including kidnapping, murder,robbery, terrorism, membership of an illegal armed group and damaging public property.

It is the heaviest sentence for Sam Bith because there is no death penalty in Cambodia. Sam Bith immediately vowed to appeal the decision.

Three western tourists, Australian David Wilson, Frenchman Jean-Michel Braquet and Briton Mark Slater, were abducted in Kompot province about 100 km southwest of the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh in 1994 and were killed about three months later.

During the trial on Dec. 13, Sam Bith claimed that he was innocent because he was in a different area at the time of the ambush, adding he was summoned to another area and demoted from regional commander by Pol Pot on June 1, 1994 while the attacks happened on July 26, 1994.

Former DK senior leader Nuon Chea, 77, also appeared in court on Dec. 13 to offer defense for Sam Bith. Nuon Chea defected to the royal government in December 1998 and now lives freely in Bailin, former stronghold of DK.

Nuon Chea said Sam Bith was not in charge of the unit when the train ambush took place. "He was moved out of the southwestern region in June 1994 because of his poor health. He went to Thailand for medical treatment in July 1994," he said.

Sam Bith claimed he has health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and bone cancer.

Australian, British and French diplomats as well as the relatives of the three victims were also present in the court.

Sam Bith, 69, was made a lieutenant-general in Cambodia's army after defecting to the government four years ago during the final years of DK rebellion. He was later removed from active duty. Sam Bith was arrested and put in custody in May this year.


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