Jacque Verges
Photo credit: Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
Jacque Verges was one of France’s most controversial lawyers, until he died of a heart attack in August last year. He was nicknamed “The Devil’s Advocate” for taking on clients like Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, and terrorist Djamila Bouhired, whom he saved from from being sentenced to death for bombing innocent people. Because of cases like these, it should come as no great surprise that Verges was well known by the public and closely watched by the media. It would be natural to assume that when he went missing in 1970, it was by the hand of one of the countless enemies he likely racked up over the years. Only we know for certain that that’s not what happened, because eight years after disappearing, Verges reemerged and carried on with his life as if nothing happened. He began practicing law again in 1979, still defending the worst people he could find, such as his old friend Khieu Samphan, who was convicted of committing genocide while he led the Khmer Rouge, a Cambodian communist party.
Many theories have been put forward as to where Verges was for those eight years. Some say he was an advisor to Pol Pot, another former leader of the Khmer Rouge, who was in power from 1975 to 1979. Others claim he was trained by the KGB. Verges himself never explained where he was for those eight years, simply saying that he was on holidays “very much to the east of France.” He also said he enjoyed reading his own obituaries, and the fact that nobody had any idea where he lived for almost a decade.
So where do you reckon this ol' boy was hiding all those years...and why? Strange stuff, for sure!
Coffee in the kitchen this morning!
8 comments:
You come up with the most baffling mysteries for sure. 27° with wind chills about 10° lower than that here this morning, so kitchen it is:))
That is a very good question. Where was he? Wind is blowing like a banshee again here. Wind chills are below zero, so the kitchen sounds wonderful.
He wanted to hide and he did. Maybe he did some really bad thing to someone and until he was told of their death could he come back.
Kitchen is OK with me. Weather here seems to be getting much better.
Hey Mamahen...
Seems like the cold weather is gonna just hang around, doesn't it?
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Linda...
The wind always makes it seem colder to me. Even sounds cold, ya know?
Thanks for coming by this morning!
Hey Jo...
I'm sure that many folks would have been happy if he had stayed gone. Oh well...!
Thanks for dropping by today!
Amazing story. I wonder if someone could even do that in this day and age.
Hey Sixbears...
It's almost like he was pranking everyone.
Thanks for coming over today!
I guess we will just have to wait until he writes his memoirs.
Hey Dizzy...
I reckon you are right about that, but it will be hard now that he's dead!
Thanks for stopping by today!
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