Bashir arrives at court for corruption trial

Delay in announcement of Sudan ruling body

August 20, 2019 00:00:00

Sudan's ousted president Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Monday arriving amid heavy security at the courthouse for hearing — Reuters

KHARTOUM, Aug 19 (Agencies): Sudan's ousted president Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Monday arrived amid heavy security at the courthouse in the capital Khartoum where he is facing corruption charges, a Reuters witness said.

Bashir is charged with illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner, prosecutor Alaa al-Din Abdallah said in June.

His trial will be a test of how serious authorities are about trying to erase the legacy of his autocratic 30-year rule, marked by widespread violence, economic collapse and the secession of South Sudan.

Bashir was also charged in May with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters, and prosecutors also want him questioned over suspected money laundering and terrorism financing.

On Saturday, Sudan's ruling military council, which took over after Bashir was ousted in April, signed a power-sharing agreement with the main opposition coalition, paving the way for a transitional government and eventual elections.

It sets up a sovereign council as the highest authority in the country, but largely delegates executive powers to the cabinet of ministers.

Meanwhile, Sudan's ruling military council says the country's pro-democracy movement has asked for a delay on the announcement of a joint ruling body because of last-minute, internal disputes over appointees.

The 11-member sovereign council is to rule Sudan for a little over three years until elections can be held.

It was created under a power-sharing deal between the military and the protesters and was to be announced on Sunday.

But the military council's spokesman Shams el-Din Kabashi said Monday that the movement withdrew its appointees to the council and would hold more consultations among its factions.

The development comes after internal disputes within the Sudanese Professionals Association, one of the opposition factions, over its nominee. The SPA had spearheaded Sudan's protests that led to the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.