Khartoum (AFP)
Fallen Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir appeared on Saturday for the second hearing of his corruption trial in a court in Khartoum where the defense demanded his release on bail.
The trial of Bashir, filed by the army on April 11 after 30 years in power, opened on August 19. He faces charges of "foreign currency possession, bribery" and trading in influence.
Wearing a traditional white dress, the 75-year-old former strongman of the country was placed in a metal cage as at the first hearing.
On August 19, an investigator claimed that Mr. Bashir had confessed to receiving large sums of cash from Saudi Arabia - up to $ 90 million (80 million euros).
On Saturday, the judge heard from three witnesses, including two investigators who had searched his residence and found large sums of money.
For its part, the defense demanded the release of Mr. Bashir, arrested on April 11 in the wake of his dismissal.
"We are asking the court to release the accused on bail," said Hashem Abu Bakr, his lawyer.
The judge replied that he would consider a written request to that effect.
Mr. Bashir's trial does not include charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the Western Darfur region for which he has been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a decade.
After the hearing, while a large convoy was taking the ex-president back to prison, two different groups demonstrated near the court.
One, made up of dozens of protesters, launched slogans demanding that Bashir be judged not only for corruption but also for his alleged role in several conflicts, including that of Darfur.
"Bashir is an assassin", "He must face justice," protesters shouted.
Another smaller group expressed support for the former president, who was forced to leave power on 11 April under pressure from massive protests against the regime.
The second hearing of the trial comes as the country on Wednesday had a Sovereign Council, composed of six civilians and five military, responsible for leading the transition to a civilian power.
© 2019 AFP