Court trying coup plotters hears recording of statement made by deposed president on coup’s day

Khartoum,   (SUNA) – The court trying the plotters of June 30, 1989 coup, chaired by Judge Hussein Al-Jak, heard in its session here today a CD containing recording of the statement made by the ousted president on the day of the coup, which was presented by the prosecution committee as an evidence.

The court gave the defense lawyer an opportunity until Monday’s session next week to review the recording in the presence of the deposed president in Kober Prison, prior to making his opinion whether he will accept it as a document.

The court rejected requests made by the defense calling on the judge to step down claiming that he does not trust his impartiality as he is an opponent of the defendants because their government had dismissed him from the judicial service during the period of its rule, which, he said, casts doubt and suspicion on revenge against the accused.

The judge rejected claims by the defense, saying it has nothing to do with reality, as he, as a judge, does not find in himself what makes him prejudiced for that reason, which he described as a political decision, while he presides over the court within a legal framework that has nothing to do with politics.