Sudan: Bashir faces decade in jail for receiving $25mln from Saudi Crown Prince

Sudan’s ousted leader Omar Bashir is facing at least 10 years in prison after a court in Khartoum convicted him of corruption when he admitted receiving $25 million from Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, MbS.

The former leader accused of corruption appeared in court on Saturday on the third session of his trial. Standing in a cage, the 75-year old former leader confessed he received $25 million from MbS who did not want to be associated to the money brought in cash on a jet.

“My office manager… received a call from the office of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman saying he has a ‘message’ that will be sent on a private jet,” he told judge Al-Sadiq Abdelrahman.

“We were told that the crown prince did not want his name to appear, i.e. be linked to the transaction,” he said, adding that if the funds were deposited with Sudan’s bank or the finance ministry, it would have been necessary to identify the sender.

The former leader was convicted of illegal acquisition of wealth and could face at least a ten-year-in prison sentence.

An investigator had previously told the court that Bashir received $90 million in cash from Saudi royals, reports say.

The revelations may deteriorate relations between Sudan and Saudi Arabia at a time the kingdom has begun supporting the African country with funds. Saudi Arabia and its ally, the UAE, have begun honoring their promise of $3 billion worth of aid to Sudan.

 

Bashir was removed  from power early April after a 30-year rule. Investigators discovered in his residence €6.9 million; $351,770 and 5.7 million Sudanese pounds.