In 2001, after significant delays, the Cambodian government established a tribunal aimed at investigating former Khmer Rouge leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In 2007, five prominent figures from the regime were arrested, charged, and detained while awaiting trial. Notably, Ta Mok, known as “The Butcher,” had passed away in 2006, just before the tribunal’s formation.

The trial of Duch, the former head of the notorious S-21 prison, commenced in March 2009 and lasted over a year. He was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to 35 years in prison, a sentence that was later commuted to 19 years. In 2012, following an unsuccessful appeal, his sentence was increased to life imprisonment.

The long-anticipated trials of the remaining defendants began in mid-2012. Among the four accused, Ieng Sary, who was Pol Pot’s brother-in-law, died in March 2013 before the trial concluded. His wife, Ieng Thirith, had been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial due to advanced Alzheimer’s disease and was released in 2011. The trials of the two remaining leaders, Nuon Chea (Brother Number Two) and Khieu Samphan, who served as the public representative of the Khmer Rouge, concluded in October 2013. In August 2014, both were sentenced to life imprisonment. While they have expressed remorse for the atrocities committed during their regime, they continue to maintain their innocence regarding direct involvement in the crimes for which they were convicted.

In 2015, the tribunal sought to extend its reach by bringing charges against several mid-ranking Khmer Rouge officials, including former naval chief Meas Muth. This move reflected the tribunal’s intention to address the crimes committed by individuals in the organization’s mid-tier leadership. However, the Cambodian government remains staunchly opposed to any further prosecutions, and as of now, none of the accused mid-ranking officials have been brought to trial.

As of 2024, the tribunal’s legacy continues to provoke discussions about justice and reconciliation in Cambodia, highlighting the ongoing struggle to confront the nation’s traumatic past while seeking a path forward.