Ex-sudan President’s trial postponed
KHARTOUM: A Sudanese court on Saturday postponed the trial of the country’s former President Omar al-bashir, who is facing corruption and money laundering charges, to 31 August.
The Sudanese Army ousted al-bashir on April 11 amid popular protests that erupted in December 2018 against his three-decade authoritarian rule.
Following his ouster, the General Prosecution in Sudan raised charges against Al-bashir related to corruption and possession of illicit wealth after around $113 million were found at his residence, Xinhua news agency reported.
“The next session of the trial has been set on August 31,” Ahmed Ibrahim Al-tahir, head of Al-bashir’s defence team, told reporters.
According to an official, at least three witnesses testified on Saturday regarding the corruption-related charges against Al-bashir. Those accusations focused on alleged money laundering and millions of US dollars, euros and Sudanese pounds that were seized in his home at the time of his arrest.
The current trial will not touch on separate charges against Al-bashir regarding the killing of protesters during the popular uprising.
Meanwhile, lawyer for Omar Hassan al-bashir said on Saturday that he will request that Bashir be released on bail as his trial on corruption charges continues.
“We are going to ask today that he be released on bail because this is an ordinary case,” Ahmed Ibrahim told reporters outside the courtroom.