Sudan judge extends detention of ex-spy chief: lawyers
June 9, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The defense team of the former director of Sudan’s National intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Salah Gosh said that the judge today renewed his detention for another week upon a request from the investigation committee.
The court held a hearing on Sunday following two weeks previously granted by the judge to the committee to finish its inquiry but it came back today to ask for an extension in order to question prosecution witnesses.
The defense team had made several unsuccessful constitutional challenges on the continued detention of Gosh without pressing charges.
Gosh was one of the key figures arrested in connection with the coup attempt announced by authorities last November which also included military figures that were later convicted but released under a presidential amnesty for some and commuting for others.
But the once-powerful figure has not been a beneficiary of the amnesty as he has yet to stand trial amid reports that authorities have failed to come up with sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
Sources say that authorities are reluctant to release him given the secrets he holds on the regime during his time as spy chief.
Gosh’s arrest marked the downfall of the once powerful spy chief who is better known for his deep cooperation with the United States on counter-terrorism following September 2001 attacks in Washington and New York.
He was surprisingly dismissed from his position in 2009 before being appointed as a presidential adviser for security.
In 2011 he was abruptly sacked by president Bashir from the position following an imbroglio between him and the powerful presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie over dialogue with opposition parties. He was later stripped of his position within the NCP and only maintained his seat in the Sudanese parliament.
The Sudanese parliament recently revoked Gosh’s parliamentary immunity to allow for his prosecution.
(ST)