Ousted Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir was formerly indicted by a Sudanese court on Saturday August 31, after being arraigned on charges which bordered on illegal acquisition and use of foreign funds.
Bashir admitted in court that he received $25 million from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as funds from other sources, but denied receiving or using the money for his own benefit.
“My office manager… received a call from the office of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman saying he has a ‘message’ that will be sent on a private jet,” the 75-year-old former Sudanese President said during the trial.
“We were told that the crown prince did not want his name to appear (linked to the transaction), and if the funds were deposited with Sudan’s bank or the finance ministry, the source would have to be identified,” he added.
However speaking at the third session of Bashir’s trial, Judge Al-Sadiq Abdelrahman stated that foreign funds of multiple currencies were found at the disgraced President’s home.
Authorities had “seized 6.9 million euros, $351,770 and 5.7 million Sudanese pounds at (Bashir’s) home which he acquired and used illegally,” the judge said.
If found guilty of illegal acquisition of wealth, Bashir risks 10 years in jail. He might also be handed a 3-year imprisonment sentence if found guilty of illicit use of foreign funds. Reuters reported that the former Sudanese President was denied bail as the trial was adjourned till September 7.
Recall that Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April after mass protests against his three-decade rule rocked Sudan for months.