Sudan's ex-president Bashir charged with corruption, holding illicit foreign currency

Record ID: 1429381

  • Title: Sudan's ex-president Bashir charged with corruption, holding illicit foreign currency
  • Date: 31st August 2019
  • Summary: KHARTOUM, SUDAN (AUGUST 31, 2019) (REUTERS) COURTROOM CAGE AHEAD OF TRIAL OF FORMER SUDANESE PRESIDENT OMAR AL-BASHIR / PEOPLE STAND UP AS BASHIR WALKS IN VARIOUS OF BASHIR SEEN INSIDE CAGE / PEOPLE INSIDE COURTROOM CHEERING/CHANTING (Arabic): 'There is no God but Allah' / BASHIR CHANTING ALONGSIDE PEOPLE IN CAGE VARIOUS OF TRIAL IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER SUDANESE PRESIDENT, OMAR AL-BASHIR, SAYING: "We did not supply the money to the Bank of Sudan because we meant to hide the source and we did so because this was the desire of the prince (Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) and I had hoped that this would have been a secret court in order not to show the name of the prince. He did not want his name to appear anywhere which is why he sent (the money) on a private plane with a private envoy. This was his wish - for it not to be known." JUDGE ALSADEQ ABDELRAHMAN WRITING POLICEMAN DURING TRIAL BASHIR INSIDE COURTROOM CAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JUDGE, ALSADEQ ABDELRAHMAN, SAYING: "The evidence provided by the seizure of the foreign currency in the possession of the accused and the codification of the judicial recognition of possession and disposition, justifies the continuation of the proceedings until proving their origin and their usage in accordance with the provisions of the law and laws that determine those actions. For these reasons we have decided to deny the request (bail) and to keep the accused in custody for the purpose of the trial. A detention order shall be issued until the session on September 7th, 2019 at 10 am." KHARTOUM, SUDAN (AUGUST 31, 2019) (REUTERS) (MUTE) BASHIR LEAVING COURTROOM CAGE
  • Embargoed: 14th September 2019 12:51
  • Keywords: Sudan Omar-al Bashir charges of corruption illicit foreign currency Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Sudan's military
  • Location: KHARTOUM, SUDAN
  • City: KHARTOUM, SUDAN
  • Country: Sudan
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AUJTLC7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A Sudanese judge formally indicted former president Omar al-Bashir on charges of possessing illicit foreign currency and corruption on Saturday (August 31).
    Questioned in court for the first time, Bashir said that he had received $25 million from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as funds from other sources, but that he had not received or used the money for his own benefit.
    A lawyer for Bashir said that his client denied the charges against him and that witnesses for the defence would be presented at the next hearing.
    The judge denied a request for bail and said a decision on the duration of Bashir's detention would be taken at a hearing on Sept. 7.
    Sudan's military ousted and arrested Bashir in April after months of protests across the country. His prosecution is seen as a test of how far military and civilian authorities now sharing power will go to counter the legacy of his 30-year rule.
    Bashir was also charged in May with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters. He has been indicted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague on charges of masterminding genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.
    A police detective told the court earlier this month that Bashir had acknowledged receiving millions from Saudi Arabia.
    (Production: El Tayeb Siddig, Seham Eloraby)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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