In July 2010, Kaing Guak Eav, known as Duch (pronounced "Duke"), who ran a secret detention camp in Phnom Penh, was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 35 years in prison. Up to 16,000 people died in the camp, a former school and now a museum. Many were brutally tortured to extract confessions of plotting against the regime.
Duch confessed to his crimes and apologized to victims during the lengthy trial. Judges cut his sentence to 19 years to take into account his decade in captivity. This move drew criticism from some of the victims' families, who said the sentence was too lenient given the heinous crimes.
Duch has since appealed his sentence and backpedaled on some of his confessions.
