Sudanese suspects in financial crimes fled to Saudi Arabia, Turkey: official

February 24, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s attorney general, Omer Mohamed, has announced that his office managed has located the whereabouts of runaway suspects in offences related to theft of public money.

Mohamed announced on Sunday following a meeting between the minister of justice, Mohamed Bushara Dousa and the parliamentary subcommittee on grievances that arrangements are underway in cooperation with Interpol to extradite the suspects.

Mohamad said Sudanese authorities have verified the fugitives are residing in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, adding that they are working with the Interpol to extradite the suspects in accordance with the 1984 Riyadh Arab Agreement for Judicial Cooperation and a similar pact with Turkey.

Dousa emphasised in the meeting that public money crimes are not be resolved through financial settlements and that strict directives were issued to carry out the legal procedures even if suspects returned the money, saying that those crimes are related to public rights which cannot be waived.

Mohamed also threatened to take legal action against government units that fail to report violations of their employees, noting that MPs expressed concern over remarks by the auditor-general related to money of Zakat (alms) and endowments.

The attorney-general has not filed charges against the Zakat chamber on the grounds that accusations included in the auditor-general’s report represent a breach of contract not embezzlement.

(ST)