Case 002/02

On 15 September 2010, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan (together with Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith) were indicted on charges of crimes against humanity, genocide and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in what is referred as Case 002 before the ECCC. The charges against them are specified in the Closing Order of Case 002. As Ieng Thirith was found unfit to stand trial, and Ieng Sary died on 14 March 2013, the two remaining defendants in Case 002 are Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea.

In September 2011, the Trial Chamber decided to separate (sever) the charges in the Case 002 Closing Order into a series of smaller trials. The first trial in Case 002, referred to as Case 002/01 commenced on 21 November 2011, and on 7 August 2014 Nuon and Khieu Samphan was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Case 002/02 refers to the second trial against Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea where additional charges from the Closing Order in Case 002 will be heard. In a decision on 4 April 2014, the Trial Chamber decided that the following alleged crime sites and factual allegations will form the basis for Case 002/02:

• Genocide against the Cham and the Vietnamese (excluding crimes committed by the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea on Vietnamese territory);
• Forced marriages and rape (nationwide);
• Internal purges;
• S-21 Security Centre; Kraing Ta Chan Security Centre, Au Kanseng Security Centre and Phnom Kraol Security Centre;
• 1st January Dam Worksite; Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction site, Trapeang Thma Dam Worksite;
• Tram Kok Cooperative;
• Treatment of Buddhists (limited to Tram Kok Cooperatives); and
• Targeting of former Khmer Republic Officials (implementation limited to Tram Kok Cooperatives, 1st January Dam Worksite, S-21 Security Centre and Kraing Ta Chan Security Centre)

Evidentiary hearings in Case 002/02 commenced with opening statements on 17 October 2014 and concluded on 11 January 2017. During the trial, the Chamber heard the testimony of 185 individuals, including 114 witnesses, 63 Civil Parties and eight experts. The evidentiary base in Case 002/02 included more than 10,800 documents for analysis and consideration by the Trial Chamber. 

On 16 November 2018 the Trial Chamber announced a summary of its findings and the disposition in Case 002/02. It notified the trial judgment in Khmer, English and French on 28 March 2019. The Chamber found Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan guilty of crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and genocide of the Vietnamese ethnic, national and racial group. The Chamber additionally convicted Nuon Chea of genocide of the Cham ethnic and religious group under the doctrine of superior responsibility. Both Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan were sentenced to terms of life imprisonment. The Chamber took into consideration the life sentences imposed on Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan in case 002/01 and merged the sentences in cases 002/01 and 002/02 into a single term of life imprisonment.