SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Witness testify in al-Bashir corruption and money laundering case

24/8/19: Multiple sources – Witness testify in al-Bashir corruption and money laundering case

• AP, by Samy Magdy

• CNN, by Yassir Abdalla and Nada AlTaher

 Witnesses testified regarding the corruption-related charges against former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, including a prosecutor, an army major and a bank employee.

 High Prosecutor Mutasem Abdulla, the first witness, said the room in al-Bashir’s house where millions of dollars were found looked "more like a storage facility with metal cabinets on the wall. Many empty sacks belonging to Seen Flour Mills were found on the floor and a bag with cash inside."

 Seen Flour Mills General Manager Tareq Siralkhatim was identified in court as a member of Bashir's Congress Party. Last week, al-Bashir's lawyer said Bashir used Siralkhatim to convert the cash from foreign to local currency.

 Abdulla testified that a banker and two money-counting machines uncovered 6.9 million euros, $351,000 and 5 million Sudanese pounds ($112,697).

 Al-Bashir’s defence team previously told CNN that the money was gifted by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and distributed to “worthy causes.”