01185906
002/19-09-2007-ECCC/SC
Doc No. F26/12
26.
VI.
TORTURE-TAINTED DOCUMENTS
A.
Procedural context and submissions
KHlEU Samphiin notes that NUON Chea's and the Co-Prosecutors' document lists
include statements taken at S-21 prison ("S-21 Statements"), and, maintaining that such
statements were presumably obtained by means of torture, objects to their use in the July
2015 Hearing entirely.47 The Co-Prosecutors object to the use of S-21 Statements to establish
the truth of the matters confessed, but posit that they may be used to prove other
circumstances. 48
27.
The Supreme Court Chamber notes that the Trial Chamber held in Case 002/01 that
evidence produced by torture is inadmissible in all circumstances for the truth of its contents
based, principally, on Article 15 of the Convention Against Torture 49 ("CAT"), repeating an
earlier finding to this effect in Case 001. 50 NUON Chea challenges this holding as part of his
appeal against the Trial Judgment. 51 In Case 002/02, the use of torture-tainted evidence is a
live issue again. 52
28.
In his submissions before the Supreme Court Chamber in the context of the July 2015
Hearing, NUON Chea does not explain how he wants to use the S-21 Statements. In his
Appeal Brief, however, he argues that, while torture-tainted evidence may not be used
against accused persons, they may use such evidence in their defence, which, in NUON
KHIEU Samphlln's Objections, paras 12-14.
Co-Prosecutors' Objections, para. 5, fu. 8; KHIEU Samphlln's Objections, para. 14. The specific documents
objected to are: D312.2.25, D36617.1.1.8, E3/1682, E3/1855, E3/2792, E3/3857, E3/3989, E3/4202. The
Supreme Court Chamber notes that E3/4202 is not in itself a confession, but a book quoting or paraphrasing
confessions of S-21 prisoners, including the confession of RUOS Nhim. Given the provenance of the relevant
portions of this document, the Supreme Court Chamber considers them equal to the other S-21 Statements.
49 Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, G.A. Res.
39/46, U.N. Doc. A/39/51, 10 December 1984, entered into force 26 June 1987 ("CAT").
50 See Case 002/01 Judgement, 7 August 2014, E313 ("Trial Judgment"), para. 35; Trial Chamber Response to
Motions E67, E57, E56, E58, E23, E59, E20, E33, E71, and E73 Following Trial Management Meeting of April
2011, 8 April 2011,E74,p. 3.
51 NUON Chea's Appeal Against the Judgment in Case 002/01,29 December 2014, F16 ("Appeal Brief'), paras
706-722; Notice of Appeal Against the Judgment in Case 002/01, 29 September 2014, E313/1/1, p. 7 (Ground
36).
52 The Trial Chamber received written submissions and held an oral hearing on the matter on 21 and 25 May
2015, respectively. See NUON Chea's Submissions Regarding the Use of "Torture-Tainted Evidence" in the
Case 002/02 Trial, 21 May 2015, E350 ("NUON Chea's Case 002/02 Submissions"); Co-Prosecutors'
Submission Regarding the Application of the Torture Convention to S-21 Confessions and Other Records
Relating to Interrogations of Prisoners, 21 May 2015, E350/1 ("Co-Prosecutors' Case 002/02 Submissions");
Civil Party Lead-Co-Lawyers' Submissions Relating to the Admissibility and Permissible Uses of Evidence
Obtained through Torture, 21 May 2015, E350/3 ("Civil Party Lead Co-Lawyers' Case 002/02 Submissions");
Conclusions de la Defense de M. KHIEU Samphan concernant l'usage des informations obtenues sous la
torture, 21 May 2015, E350/4 ("KHIEU Samphlln's Case 002/02 Submissions"); T. (EN), 25 May 2015,
El/304.1, pp. 3-48.
47
48
DECISION ON OBJECTIONS TO DOCUMENT LISTS - FULL REASONS
11140