Sudan’s ousted President Omar Al-Bashir appeared inside a caged dock in a courtroom during his first appearance in a trial over charges of possessing foreign currency, corruption and receiving gifts illegally.
Al-Bashir’s trial was scheduled to be held on Saturday but it was postponed due to it coincided with the final signing of the transitional government’s documents.
https://www.facebook.com/SkyNewsArabia/videos/397111620939533/?t=103
The deal between the country’s military rulers and the opposition coalition of the Alliance for Freedom and Change was welcomed with relief by both sides; protesters celebrated what they saw as the victory of their “revolution” and generals taking credit for averting a bloody civil war.
The deposed president’s trial will be open for journalists and various media outlets.
Bashir was forced out of power in April when security forces withdrew their support for his regime after months of popular protests.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for his arrest to answer charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity but Sudan has insisted it would not hand him over.
Thousands of people were killed, maimed and tortured in Darfur.
The United Nations estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 people died in the conflict, with a further 2.7 million displaced. Militia formed and directed by Al-Bashir are blamed for the worst atrocities.
The trial comes as Sudan’s military rulers and protest leaders begin to implement a landmark deal reached earlier this month that is meant to pave the way for civilian 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).
Follow the latest news on Google News
