Sudanese president pardons NISS officers convicted in coup attempt

April 29, 2013 (KHARTOUM) –The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has pardoned six officers from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) who were sentenced to jail last week over their alleged role in last November’s foiled coup attempt.

Last Thursday, the court slapped a four years jail term on Lieutenant Colonel Hashim Omar, six years for Lieutenant Colonel Amin Zaki, two years for Lieutenant Colonel Jamal al-Din-Fageeri, four years for Major Ahmed Hassan, four years for Major Busairi Ali al-Amin and eight years for Captain Alaa El-Din Mohamed Abdullah. All convicts were also ordered expelled from the NISS. The court acquitted Captain Ibrahim Obaid-Allah.

This month another military court sentenced seven army officers to prison terms of up to five years and dismissed them from service in connection with the same coup attempt.

But Sudanese president later commuted the sentences and had them released from prison immediately.

Today’s pardon does not include former NISS director Salah Gosh who remains detained without charges and has yet to stand trial.

Sources say that authorities are reluctant to release him given the secrets he hold on the regime during his time as spy chief.

(ST)