Riyaz Patel
A Sudanese court has formally indicted ousted president Omar al-Bashir for possessing illicit foreign currency and corruption.
Bashir acknowledged that he had received $25 million from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as funds from other sources, but denied that he had used the money for his own benefit.
The foreign currency held by Bashir was illicit and had been transferred illegally, the judge said.
Bashir’s lawyer told the court that his client denies the charges and that defence witnesses would be presented at the next hearing.
The judge denied Bashir’s bail request and said a decision on the duration of Bashir’s detention would be taken at a hearing on 7 September.
Millions of euros and Sudanese pounds were found at Bashir’s residence in April when he was toppled and arrested, a judicial source said at the time.
Sudan’s military ousted Bashir after months of protests across the country, and his prosecution is seen as a test of how far military and civilian authorities now sharing
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