The trial of ousted autocrat, Omar al-Bashir who led a military coup that brought him to power 31 years ago has started in a Sudan court on Tuesday.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that Al-Bashir and 26 other defendants gave brief introductory statements at the Supreme Court in the capital, Khartoum.
It was also learnt that a judge then rejected the defence’s appeal for a postponement, filed on the basis of Sudan’s fragile political climate and questioning the impartiality of the court.
According to NAN report, the judge scheduled the next session for Sept. 15. The trial was initially set to start in late July but was postponed three times, including due to lack of coronavirus precautions.
Al-Bashir is facing charges of undermining the constitution, rebellion and violating the Armed Forces Act, Al-Moez Hadra, who belongs to the group of lawyers who filed the criminal lawsuit, said.
The 76-year-old will stand trial with several co-accused, among them two of al-Bashir’s former vice presidents as well as former ministers and governors.
If convicted, al-Bashir, who is already imprisoned for corruption, could face a death sentence. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 after he led a military coup against democratically elected Prime Minister Sadek al-Mahdi.