By RFIPubliée the 31-07-2019Modified the 31-07-2019 at 23:46

The first hearing of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's trial was adjourned on Wednesday until 18 August.

The former Sudanese head of state had to respond to corruption . According to the prosecutor's office, Omar al-Bashir is accused of "illegal possession of foreign currency" and of having "acquired wealth in a suspicious and illegal manner".

At a hearing on Wednesday where he did not appear, it was announced that his trial would finally begin on August 18. Omar al-Bashir was dismissed and arrested on April 11.

The lawyer Tarek Kalchoube is part of a group of "lawyers against discrimination", who attends the trial of Omar al-Bashir to ensure that the procedure is fair.

" Last Monday, the mother of the president passed away. Given these circumstances, the defense committee has applied to the prosecution for a postponement of the meeting, which he obtained, he explains. There was also a discussion around the safety of the former president, the defense committee finds that the current location of the court does not provide the security conditions necessary for this trial. The location of the court in the center of Khartoum may represent a danger for the person of Omar al-Bashir. But the prosecution refused the idea of ​​transferring the trial elsewhere assuring that it is quite capable of securing the court area during the trial. "

Omar al-Bashir is charged with corruption. His lawyers recall that this is a criminal case and not a political one. Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir leads the ex-president's team of lawyers. And he just spoke out of the audience.

Justice will have to decide on a charge that falls within the criminal field. This case has no political foundation as unfounded rumors claim. The accusation concerns only a sum of 7 million euros, a donation from a friend country of Sudan. The sum is therefore not part of the country's budget. President al-Bashir used it according to the necessities and we have all the documents relating to this matter. We will present them to the court, God willing. We are convinced that this is the only accusation that exists against President Omar al-Bashir and inchallah, he will come out whitened and win.

Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir, one of Omar al-Bashir's lawyers

31-07-2019 - By Houda Ibrahim

    On the same subject

    Sudan: junta wants to try Omar el-Bechir without handing him over to the ICC

    Bashir deferred to the floor: "We have the impression of a great masquerade"

    Sudan: Omar al-Bashir deferred to prosecution

    comments