Sudan ex-President Bashir's Trial Adjourned for Security Reasons

Sudanese ex-president Omar al-Bashir's trial on corruption charges has been adjourned to August 15.

The Sudanese judiciary announced Wednesday that the decision on adjournment was made due to Bashir’s failure to appear before court in the first session of his trial.

On his part, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, head of al-Bashir's defence, said that Al-Bashir failed to appear before court for security reasons.

He added that one charge is raised against al-Bashir relating to money found at the Guest House, saying that "this money was a grant from one of the countries and was not included in the budget."

The military overthrew and detained Bashir on April 11 after 16 weeks of street protests against his rule.

Sudan’s army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that more than $113 million worth of cash in three currencies had been seized from Bashir’s residence.

He said a team of police, army and security agents found seven million euros ($7.8 million), $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds ($105 million).

Bashir is expected to face another trial in a lawsuit filed against him by several lawyers accusing him of carrying out a military coup that ousted an elected government and brought him to power in June 1989.

Sudan suffered high rates of corruption during Bashir’s rule, ranking 172 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index.