This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
On August 19, 2019, Sudan's deposed president Omar al-Bashir faced a corruption trial in Khartoum, where he was accused of receiving $90 million in cash from Saudi royals.
According to investigator Ahmed Ali, Bashir claimed the money was part of a sum of $25 million sent to him by Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be used outside of the state budget.
Bashir also alleged that he received two previous payments of $35 million and $30 million from Saudi King Abdullah, who died in 2015.
However, Bashir's defense team denied the allegations, stating that the trial had no 'political background' and was an 'absolute criminal case with a baseless accusation.'
The trial comes as Sudan transitions to a new civilian-led government, with the composition of the joint civilian and military sovereign council expected to be announced on Tuesday.
The council will oversee the formation of a transitional civilian administration, including a cabinet and a legislative body, and will be headed by a general for the first 21 months and by a civilian for the remaining 18 months.
Amnesty International has warned that the corruption trial should not distract from Bashir's alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region.
The International Criminal Court has been seeking to try Bashir for his role in the Darfur conflict, but Sudan's new government has yet to ratify the ICC's Rome Statute, which would allow for his transfer to the international tribunal.
