The Supreme Court Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has upheld the life sentence against former Khmer Rouge head of state Khieu Samphan.

Samphan, now 91 and the only surviving former Khmer Rouge leader, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 on charges of crimes against humanity, genocide and grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Convention.

In its ruling on the morning of September 22, the Supreme Court Chamber stated that the life sentence was just, based on the atrocities suffered by people during the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror. It declared that the decision is final and cannot be appealed further.

“[Samphan’s] life term in Case 002/02 shall be served concurrently with his life sentence in case 002/01,” stated Kong Srim, president of the Supreme Court Chamber.