HUDO Centre
8th May 2018
Update (19)
COURT TRIAL OF AL-SANADRA CASE
The court session was held on 3rd May 2018 at Khartoum North court before
Justice/ Abdeen Hamid Dhahi. Apart from the prosecutor, all parties were
present. During this session, two defending witnesses delivered their
testimonies. The next court session is scheduled for 9th May 2018. Summary of
the court session On 3rd May 2018, the session started at 11:00 AM (Sudan local
time) at Khartoum North court before Justice/ Abdeen Hamid Dhahi and all
parties were present apart from the prosecutor. At the beginning of the
session, an officer/Colonel from Sudan Arm Force (SAF) informed court that, an
investigation committee headed by a Major General was set up to investigate the
escape of the sixth defendant together with other three detainees from the
military prison. The colonel further informed court that an announcement was
sent to all exit points of Sudan. Then the Judge decided to handle the case of
the sixth defendant separately and continue the court process concerning the
rest. Two (2) witnesses from the defendants’ side submitted their testimonies
and they were cross-examined by the two panels of lawyers and the Judge.
The summary of their testimonies is given below;
The 4th defending witness: SAF First Lieutenant/ Haitham Abduelraheem Ali
Adam, 37 years old
· I was working in
Al-Abbasiya during Al-Sanadra incident.
· Together with a PDF
Captain, we were assigned by Colonel/ Alrasheed to go to Al-Sanadra and
evacuate the injured people.
· Around 09:00AM, we moved
from Al-Abbasiya towards Al-Sanadra in two vehicles whereby one had a machine
gun mounted on. But we did not reached Al-Sanadra, we came back to Al-Abbasiya
by 10:15 AM.
· I had ordered the
soldiers to shoot towards the mountain which is in the opposite direction of
Al-Sanadra.
· The PDF in Al-Abbasiya
takes their orders from SAF Al-Abbasiya.
· The entire South Kordufan
is a military operational area.
The 5th defending witness: PDF security/ MI member/
Aasim Salim Hamid, 37 years old.
· I was in Al-Abbasiya
during Al-Sanadra incident.
· I was among those who
were assigned to go to Al-Sanadra with the two vehicles. The first vehicle was
headed by Captain/ Ali Abakar and the second headed by First lieutenant/
Haitham.
· The assignment was to go
and evaluate the situation in Al-Sanadra.
· All orders to PDF comes
from SAF.
· First lieutenant/
Haitham’s vehicle had shot from the machine-gun towards the mountain. At the
end of the session, the judge adjourned court to 9 th April 2018 at 11:00 AM
(Sudan local time).
Observation Notes
· The defendants were
brought to court guarded by a troop of SAF soldiers headed by a Colonel
accompanied with Major and two Lieutenants.
Recommendations/ Appeals HUDO urges all the concerned,
especially:
· The Sudan court to
conduct the trial fairly
· The activists, defenders
and supporters to keep on attending court sessions
· The diplomatic missions
and embassies to observe the court sessions
· The Sudan and
international media to give full coverage for the court
END For any further information please write to hudo2009@gmail.com