Sudan’s ex-president Bashir charged with illegal possession of foreign funds, corruption

Ashraf Shawly, AFP | Sudanese demonstrators hold portraits of President Omar al-Beshir during a protest in Khartoum on March 4, 2009, against the International Criminal Court warrant calling for Bashir's arrest.

A Sudanese court on Saturday charged ousted president Omar al-Bashir with corruption and use of foreign funds. His appeal for bail was denied.

Sudanese authorities “seized €6.9 million, $351,770 and 5.7 million Sudanese pounds at (Bashir’s) home which he acquired and used illegally,” said judge Al-Sadiq Abdelrahman.

The funds were found when he was arrested in April.

Bail denied

Bashir said in court that he had received $25 million from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but that he had not used the money for private purposes.

Bashir’s lawyer said that his client denied the charges and that witnesses for the defence would be presented at the next hearing scheduled for next week.

Wanted by ICC for war crimes

The trial will not include charges relating to the killing of protesters during the popular uprising that led to his military ouster, ending al-Bashir's three-decade rule.

Bashir is also wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide linked to the Darfur conflict in the 2000s.

Al-Bashir ousted: a look back at his presidency

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)