Sudan Islamists stand trial on treason charges
KHARTOUM, Sept 29 (AFP) — A Khartoum criminal court criminal Wednesday began the trial of 32 members of the Popular Congress (PC) party members arrested last March for plotting subversive actions against the state.
Prosecutor Yassir Ahmed Mohammed charged the defendants with attempting to overthrow the regime through “a criminal, terrorist conspiracy in which all of them participated, using their military and political positions.”
He alleged that the suspects, including 19 serving and retired army officers, divided roles in the “plot”, depending on their positions.
He added that they planned to sabotage the telecommunications network and electricity supply lines in the capital.
Police Brigadier Abdul Rahim Ahmed Abdul Rahim, who interrogated the suspects, told the court they planned to form a revolutionary command council to run the country if they had succeeded.
He added that the former governor of North Darfur, General Ibrahim Suleiman, had been tipped to head the council. Others such as current army spokesman, General Mohamed Beshir Suleiman and other army officers, including three from the south, had been chosen as members, Abul Rahim alleged.
He said the coup organizers had decided that the council would run the country for a two-year transitional period.
Abdul Rahim identified retired police Lieutenant Colonel Suleiman Haqar as the group’s leader and said they had held several meetings in and around the capital to discuss arrangements for the coup.
Haqar, a lawyer, recruited a number of army and police officers from Darfur to support the plot, Abdul Rahim continued.
He further accused the defendants of instigating war against the state, conspiring to overthrow the regime, undermining the constitution and disturbing the peace and public order.
The defense complained that some 20 members of its team and the suspect’s family members were prevented from attending the hearing. The court claimed there was not enough space for everybody in the room.
The defense also complained, in a statement faxed to AFP, about the removal of another member of its team from the court for urging the court to give more time to defendants whose lawyers were arrested in the recent purges against the PC to find new lawyers.
Judge Mutasem Taj al-Sir Osman, who presided over the hearing, adjourned the trial until Monday.