The IBJ Fellow in Cambodia, Ouk Vandeth, recently conducted a training session for criminal defenders. The training was originally planned to accommodate for 15 participants. However, owing to an overwhelming amount of interest in the subject a total of 26 participants were allowed to attend.The subject of the training was the role of the investigating judge and the role of the defender during pre-trial detention. The materials presented focused on the procedures of pre-trial detention, the process for inquiry into the alleged crimes of the accused, the requirement to obtain an arrest warrant, the methods criminal defenders may adopt to request bail on the behalf of their clients and the rights of the accused to appeal the grounds of their detention when the crime they are accused of is not part of the law. All these issues were covered to provide the participants with an important understanding of how to better protect and represent their clients while awaiting trial.

The participants responded very enthusiastically to the training. All the participants found the training very helpful and recognised their need for such training to further carry out their duties. Many indicated at the end of the training that they we would to participate in further IBJ training session because they believed that there was still a lot they could learn about how to represent persons accused of crimes.

Ouk Vandeth has been an IBJ Fellow in Cambodia since 2006. He has many years experience working as a criminal defender in Cambodia and most recently served as the Director of Legal Aid Cambodia. Vandeth was a graduate of one of the earliest law classes in Cambodia aimed at legal defence. Prior to obtaining his law degree, Vandeth served as a police officer in Cambodia working closely with prosecutors and other department officials.