While in pre-trial detention, nearly all of the accused were held in virtual incommunicado detention, without access to human rights workers and, in many cases, their own defense lawyers and family members.

Some lawyers were never granted permission to meet their clients while others were on several occasions denied access to their clients and when finally, sometimes after waiting for months, permitted to see them they could only meet for a few minutes. Furthermore, fifty of the 122 CFF suspects were unlawfully detained for longer than six months before being brought to trial. 10 1995. "Provisions Relating to the Judiciary and Criminal Law and Procedure Applicable in Cambodia During the Transitional Period",

At their eventual trials, defense lawyers raised the issue of excessive pre-trial detention of their clients and requested their immediate release; this was not granted by the trial judge.

Death in Prison

According to LICADHO information 53 prisoners died in 2001, two women and 51 men. The majority, 30 inmates, died in CC1 (formerly T3) in Phnom Penh See figure 6 for details of prison deaths during the year.

The vast majority of the deaths were caused by disease. However, three prisoners committed suicide and two other deaths involved prisoners who had received injuries prior to being sent to prison; it was unclear whether the latter deaths were caused by the injuries. An alarming high number of deceased prisoners in 2001, as many as 20, were either confirmed or suspected to have died from diseases related to HIV-AIDS. Ten deceased prisoners suffered serious abdominal pains or abdominal bleeding prior to death, but the cause was never determined. LICADHO medical team is notified by the prison director upon the death of an inmate. When possible, the medical team investigates the body of the deceased inmate to record information which may indicate cause of death.