SUDAN: Police detective tells court ousted al-Bashir received millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia

The trial of ousted President Omar al-Bashir began on Monday with a detective telling a court in Sudan that the former leader admitted to receiving millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia.

According to police investigator, Ahmed Ali, embattled Mohamed al-Bashir admitted to receiving $25m (£21m) from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

However, al-Bashir who appeared behind a cage in court, dressed in white robes and a turban made no comment on the allegations, Reuters news agency reports.

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He spoke to confirm his name and laughed when asked about where he was living, Reuters adds. He replied: “Formerly the airport district at army headquarters but now Kobar prison.”

The former leader who seized power in a military coup on June 30, 1989, faces charges related to “possessing foreign currency, corruption and receiving gifts illegally”.

Reports say prosecutors have also opened other criminal probes against al-Bashir, including on charges of money laundering, financing “terrorism” and “ordering the killing of protesters” – the latter is an offence that carries the death penalty in Sudan.

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