Sudan’s Bashir ‘received $90m from Saudi Arabia’

Former president Omar al-Bashir in court in a cage on 19 August, 2019 [AFP]

Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir received millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia and Emirates, a detective has told a court on Monday.

Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir received millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia and Emirates, a detective has told a court on Monday.

Mr Bashir appeared in court in Khartoum on Monday to face charges related to "possessing foreign currency, corruption and receiving gifts illegally". The 75-year-old, who seized power in a coup in 1989, arrived at the courthouse in a convoy with security forces. 

In June, prosecutors said large sums of cash had been found at his residence after he was toppled. He was overthrown by the military in April after months of protests against his 30-year rule. The former leader has been in jail since being ousted.

The investigator, Ahmed Ali, told the court that Mr Bashir admitted to receiving $25m from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to be used outside of the state budget.

He also said the former president got $65m from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who died in 2015.

The police investigator further said al-Bashir had said he also received $1 million from the President of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Bashir listened to the testimony from a cage in the courtroom without commenting. 

Bashir's lawyer Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir said there is no evidence with regards to the accusations of illicit gains aimed at Bashir.

Al-Tahir said another court sitting will take place next Saturday.