- Title: Sudan sentences 29 intelligence agents to hang for teacher's killing
- Date: 30th December 2019
- Summary: MAN CRYING
- Embargoed: 13th January 2020 18:54
- Keywords: Ahmed al-Khair Omar al-Bashir Sudanese court death by hanging nationall intelligence
- Location: OMDURMAN, SUDAN
- City: OMDURMAN, SUDAN
- Country: Sudan
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004BC64F9J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Sudanese court sentenced 29 members of the national intelligence service to death by hanging on Monday (December 30) over the killing of a teacher in detention in February during protests that led to the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir.
The group that spearheaded the protests welcomed the ruling, the first to deliver sentences over crackdowns on demonstrations in the months before and after Bashir was toppled in April.
Prosecuting members of the intelligence services is seen as a test of how far Sudan's transitional government will go to erase Bashir's legacy and challenge the security apparatus.
Thirteen defendants were sentenced to prison terms and a further four were acquitted in the ruling, which could face several stages of appeal.
The judge listed 27 agents from Kassala, capital of eastern Kassala state, who received death sentences. Another two agents from Khashm al-Qirba, the town in Kassala state where teacher Khair was killed, were also sentenced to death, a lawyer said.
Khair's death became a rallying point during 16 weeks of protests against Bashir's rule. His family said security officials initially claimed he had died of poisoning, though days later a state investigation found he had died of injuries from beating.
Hundreds of people rallied outside the court in Omdurman where the verdict was delivered on Monday, some waving national flags or holding pictures of Khair.
They broke into celebration after the ruling.
(Production: Mostafa Salem, Polly Rider) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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