SUDAN’S former president Omar al-Bashir could face the death penalty amid accusations that he “ordered the killing of protesters.”

He faces a potential court hearing on corruption charges this week after being accused of accruing “suspicious and illicit wealth” during his 30 years in power.

A forlorn-looking Mr Bashir appeared in public yesterday for the first time since he was ousted in a military coup in April.

The former leader was escorted under heavy guard from the Kobar maximum security prison in Khartoum to the prosecutor’s office where he was informed of the charges against him.

Sudan’s acting chief prosecutor Alwaleed Sayed Ahmed explained that he faces trial on charges of “possessing foreign currency and acquiring suspicious and illicit wealth.” He gave Mr Bashir one week to appeal.

Mr Bashir is accused of violating a decree that he introduced himself in February as anti-government protests grew demanding his resignation. He had imposed a state of emergency and made it illegal to carry over $3,000 in foreign currency.

However, when he was overthrown in April’s coup, the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that replaced him claimed to have found over $113 million in three different currencies at his home. He faces at least 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Prosecutors are also investigating Mr Bashir on more serious charges of money laundering, financing terrorism and ordering the killing of protesters. The latter is a charge that carries the death penalty. 

Mr Bashir’s trial on the corruption charges could begin this week if he does not appeal.

The Sudanese opposition are suspicious that the TMC is using the litigation to divert attention from its role in the recent crackdown that left over 100 dead.

Rapid Support Force leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo — known as Hemeti — who is also the deputy head of the TMC intimated that a deal struck with the opposition on the framework of a new government was scrapped.

He told supporters in Khartoum: “Our problem with [the opposition] is that they want to form an unelected parliament to eradicate us,” he said, adding: “We’re ready to form a technocratic government. But our problem is that the parliament will not be an elected one.”

Hemeti seeks to blame the opposition for instigating the deadly violence and promised the death penalty for those involved in the attacks.

“We are working hard to take those who did this to the gallows,” he said.