Ieng Sary, the co-founder of Khmer Rouge, dies at 87

Ieng Sary in 1996 with former members of his radical Maoist movement who were allowed to join the Cambodian Army
-Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Ieng Sary, the co-founder of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, who was one of the few leaders on trial on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, died on Thursday in a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

 Mr. Ieng Sary had been on treatment for heart problems and other ailments. On March 4, he was taken from his holding cell at the special tribunal to a hospital to treat him for  gastrointestinal problems. Later, on Thursday, March 14, he died before his case against him could be finished. 

Mr. Ieng Sary was found to be a part of Paris-educated communists, which brutally killed 1.7 million people from starvation. Kaing Guek, a prison commander, was also found guilty for the deaths of people. He was sentenced to life in prison in February 2012.