SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Bashir defence asks court for release on bail

24/8/19: Multiple sources – Bashir defence asks court for release on bail

• AFP

• Reuters

 Ahmed Ibrahim, the lawyer for Sudan’s ex-president Omar Hassan al-Bashir said on Saturday that he will request that Bashir be released on bail because “[his] trial is an ordinary case.”

 The judge said he would review the request, if submitted.

 Al-Bashir is charged with illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner. He acknowledged receiving millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a police detective told the court earlier this week.

 Two opposing groups demonstrators staged protests in and around the courthouse.

 Demonstrator Yasser Mohammed said: “Bashir has committed a number of crimes that he should be prosecuted for as a priority, not for these sums of money.”

 A protest group turned out in support of Al Bashir waving signs that read: “the trial of the president is the trial of the nation.”

 One of them, Abdelrahman Omar, said: “we came here to support the legitimate president.”