Sudan prosecutor says lawyer’s arrest unrelated to Hamdok case

October 13, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s public prosecutor denied on Sunday that the arrest of a lawyer representing ousted Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was linked to his request to access investigation files in a case against Hamdok and other civilian leaders.

According to the coalition’s legal committee, Lawyer Muntasir Abdallah, who represents the Tagadum coalition, was arrested on September 7 in Port Sudan.

The prosecutor’s office said Abdallah’s arrest was “carried out under procedures outlined in the Criminal Procedure Code of 1991, based on material facts attributed to him” and related to a separate criminal case.

The statement did not provide details about the charges against Abdullah.

Tagadum’s legal committee had claimed Abdallah’s arrest was connected to his May 21 request to access the investigation diary in a case against Hamdok and 16 other coalition leaders. They face charges including inciting war against the state, undermining the constitutional system and crimes against humanity, which carry the death penalty.

The prosecutor’s office denied this, stating that Abdallah was arrested on Oct. 3, well after he requested access to the files.

Acting Attorney General Al-Fateh Tayfour said last month that the prosecutor has evidence proving the involvement of Hamdok and Tagadum leaders in war crimes and genocide.

In July 2022, the Supreme Court granted defence lawyers the right to access investigation files in a separate case, setting a precedent for lawyers to access such documents.