Japan gives 'urgent' funds for Cambodia trials

Japan has announced an "urgent" $200,000 donation to the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, allowing it to pay Cambodian staff after donations dried up following corruption claims.

A leading judge at the war crimes tribunal said earlier this month that the court did not have enough money to pay local staff after accusations of graft made donors wary.

"In response to the request from the royal government of Cambodia, the government of Japan has made an urgent decision to contribute $200,000 to finance the Cambodian share of the trial budget," said a press statement by the Japanese embassy.

Under the complicated tribunal agreement, Cambodian and international staff have separate budgets funded by countries including Japan, France, Australia, Germany and the United States.

The court's first trial is under way, but the Cambodian side has been hit by claims of political interference and a scandal in which local staff were allegedly forced to pay kickbacks for their jobs.