About Im Chaem
Born 1946. Im Chaem is a Cambodian revolutionary.
Im Chaem (; born 1946) is a Cambodian politician. She was a district governor for the Khmer Rouge during the period of Democratic Kampuchea. Life Chaem was born in Kbal Ou village, Cheang Tong Commune, Tram Kak District, Takéo province. She was raised Buddhist. Reports of conditions at the worksites differ; prosecutors allege that one of the dams was built by hand by underfed workers, while Chaem maintains "that poor conditions were endemic" and she treated her workers better than previous officials.
She converted to Christianity in November 2017, and was baptized in January 2018. Her husband and children also converted. Her pastor, Christopher LaPel, was a survivor of a forced labor camp which she allegedly oversaw. and Phnom Trayoung prison, where around 40,000 people were killed or died due to starvation and overwork between 1977-1979.
In 2017, the ECCC voted they had no authority to prosecute Chaem because she was not "a person 'most responsible' for atrocities".
Chaem has consistently denied the allegations and any wrongdoing.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Im Chaem's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Im Chaem?
Cambodian politician
When was Im Chaem born?
Im Chaem was born in 1946 in Cheang Tong.
What is Im Chaem's occupation?
Im Chaem is a revolutionary.
What nationality is Im Chaem?
Im Chaem is Cambodian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Im Chaem. https://biography.guide/im-chaem/
MLA: "Im Chaem." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/im-chaem/.
Chicago: "Im Chaem." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/im-chaem/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC