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Ex-Sudanese dictator 'received millions from Saudis', trial told Ex-Sudan leader said he received millions from Saudis, trial told
(about 1 hour later)
Omar al-Bashir told investigators he had received millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a detective has said in court on the first day of the deposed Sudanese president’s high-profile corruption trial. Omar al-Bashir told investigators he received $90m (£73.8m) in cash from Saudi Arabia, a detective has said in court on the first day of the deposed Sudanese president’s corruption trial.
Bashir has been in detention since being forced from power in April when security forces withdrew their support for his regime after months of popular protests. Bashir has been in detention since being forced from power in April when security forces withdrew their support for his regime after months of popular protests. He faces charges of possessing foreign currency, corruption and receiving gifts illegally.
He was informed by the prosecutor’s office on Monday morning that he faced charges of possessing foreign currency, corruption and receiving gifts illegally. Large amounts of cash were found at his residence after he was toppled. The investigator said the case brought to the court investigated the source of some of that money.
“The accused told us that the money was part of a sum of $25m sent to him by [Crown] Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be used outside of the state budget,” the investigator, Ahmed Ali, told the court.
According to Ali, Bashir said he had received two previous payments of $35m and $30m from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who died in 2015. “This money was not part of the state budget and I was the one who authorised its spending,” the investigator quoted Bashir as saying.
He said Bashir said the Saudi money was exchanged and spent and he could not remember how, nor did he have documents providing further details.
Bashir listened to the testimony from a cage in the courtroom and did not comment.
Earlier he had arrived outside the Judicial and Legal Science Institute, where the trial is taking place, in a huge military convoy.
Bashir is born to a rural family in the village of Hosh Bannaga, 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital Khartoum.Bashir is born to a rural family in the village of Hosh Bannaga, 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital Khartoum.
A soldier from a young age, he fought alongside the Egyptian army in the short 1973 Arab-Israeli war.A soldier from a young age, he fought alongside the Egyptian army in the short 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
As brigade commander and with the backing of Islamists, he seizes power in a coup against the democratically elected Sudanese government.As brigade commander and with the backing of Islamists, he seizes power in a coup against the democratically elected Sudanese government.
He sends troops and militiamen to crush a rebellion in the western region of Darfur. The conflict claims more than 300,000 lives, according to the UN.He sends troops and militiamen to crush a rebellion in the western region of Darfur. The conflict claims more than 300,000 lives, according to the UN.
The International Criminal Court issues a warrant for Bashir's arrest on war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The following year it issues a warrant for genocide. He denies the charges.The International Criminal Court issues a warrant for Bashir's arrest on war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The following year it issues a warrant for genocide. He denies the charges.
He is elected president in the first multi-party election since he took power, which is boycotted by the opposition. He is re-elected in 2015.He is elected president in the first multi-party election since he took power, which is boycotted by the opposition. He is re-elected in 2015.
After a referendum, South Sudan splits from Bashir's Sudan and becomes an independent nation.After a referendum, South Sudan splits from Bashir's Sudan and becomes an independent nation.
Demonstrations against his government erupt after a hike in petrol prices. Officials say dozens are killed in related violence.Demonstrations against his government erupt after a hike in petrol prices. Officials say dozens are killed in related violence.
Protests begin in several towns after bread prices triple, snowballing into rolling nationwide rallies demanding he step down.Protests begin in several towns after bread prices triple, snowballing into rolling nationwide rallies demanding he step down.
Bashir is removed from office by the military and detained.Bashir is removed from office by the military and detained.
The detective told the court Bashir had made the statement about the money as he was questioned by investigators after his detention. Bashir – who was in a cage in the courtroom, dressed in traditional white robes and a turban – listened to the testimony but did not comment.
Bashir had arrived outside the Judicial and Legal Science Institute, where the trial is taking place, in a huge military convoy, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
Pro-democracy campaigners and victims of systematic human rights abuses under Bashir’s 30-year rule hope he will also face charges of incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters.Pro-democracy campaigners and victims of systematic human rights abuses under Bashir’s 30-year rule hope he will also face charges of incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters.
Sudan’s military rulers and protest leaders have begun to implement a landmark deal reached this month that is meant to pave the way for civilian rule.Sudan’s military rulers and protest leaders have begun to implement a landmark deal reached this month that is meant to pave the way for civilian rule.
The agreement between the country’s military rulers and the opposition coalition of the Alliance for Freedom and Change was welcomed with relief by both sides, with protesters celebrating what they saw as the victory of their “revolution” and generals taking credit for averting a bloody civil war. The agreement between the military and the opposition coalition Alliance for Freedom and Change was welcomed by both sides, with protesters celebrating what they saw as the victory of their “revolution” and generals taking credit for averting a bloody civil war.
Tens of thousands of people of all ages took to the streets of Khartoum on Saturday in celebration, with many heading towards the newly renamed Freedom Square, once the site of many of Bashir’s rallies.Tens of thousands of people of all ages took to the streets of Khartoum on Saturday in celebration, with many heading towards the newly renamed Freedom Square, once the site of many of Bashir’s rallies.
A key priority for the pro-democracy campaigners – to bring former members of Bashir’s regime to justice – is high up in the new constitutional charter. A key priority for the pro-democracy campaigners is to bring former members of Bashir’s regime to justice, and this is high up in a new constitutional charter.
Members of the former dictator’s legal team, which includes almost 100 lawyers, are optimistic the court will throw out the current graft charges.Members of the former dictator’s legal team, which includes almost 100 lawyers, are optimistic the court will throw out the current graft charges.
Mohamed el-Hassan el-Amin said the worst punishment Bashir would face was a fine: “There’s no way he will be condemned in this case … When he did what he did he was then a president with immunity.” Mohamed el-Hassan el-Amin said the worst punishment Bashir would face was a fine. “There’s no way he will be condemned in this case … When he did what he did he was then a president with immunity,” he said.
Human rights lawyers say charges for more serious offences will come when the civilian-led government is formed. “It won’t only be him, but other big figures of his regime will all face these charges. We are just waiting to have a proper justice minister and a new attorney general,” said Abdullah Galley, a member of the Democratic Coalition for Lawyers. Human rights lawyers say charges for more serious offences will come when the civilian-led government is formed. “It won’t only be him but other big figures of his regime will all face these charges. We are just waiting to have a proper justice minister and a new attorney general,” said Abdullah Galley, a member of the Democratic Coalition for Lawyers.
So far, authorities in Sudan have refused to hand Bashir to the international criminal court in The Hague, which has accused him of criminal responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide following the killing, maiming and torture of hundreds of thousands of people in the region of Darfur.So far, authorities in Sudan have refused to hand Bashir to the international criminal court in The Hague, which has accused him of criminal responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide following the killing, maiming and torture of hundreds of thousands of people in the region of Darfur.
The UN estimates that 200,000 to 400,000 people died in the conflict, with a further 2.7 million displaced. Militia formed and directed by Bashir are blamed for the worst atrocities. The UN estimates that 200,000 to 400,000 people died in the conflict and a further 2.7 million were displaced. Militia formed and directed by Bashir are blamed for the worst atrocities.
The next hearing is scheduled for 24 August.
Omar al-BashirOmar al-Bashir
SudanSudan
AfricaAfrica
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
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