Wanted gang leader arrested in South Darfur

(UPDATE 17:22) The Sudanese police have arrested gang leader Hamad Shummo, who was convicted of a major theft of Unamid staff salaries, but remained at large since being sprung from court in December 2012.

On Monday the Police Director of South Darfur, Maj. General Balla El Hussein, announced the arrest of Shummo, nicknamed Dahdoh. El Hussein said that he is considered one of the most dangerous gang leaders and a leader of one of the largest criminal networks in Sudan.

Dahdoh is the main suspect of the theft of $450.000 and SDG45 million destined for the Unamid staff payroll in 2012, and the robbery of El Tadamon Islamic Bank in the market of Nyala.

The gang leader was found guilty on counts of theft, murder, and terrorism by the Nyala criminal court on 8 December 2012, however just after the Judge delivered his verdict, militiamen – allegedly Border Guards members – stormed the courtroom. They randomly fired into the air, witnesses told Radio Dabanga at the time, and severely beat the Judge.

They grabbed Shummo and two defendants who were also on trial, and took them to the east of Nyala where several other vehicles moved them to an unknown destination.

Khartoum prison

Dahdoh was quickly transferred by air from South Darfur to the Kober prison in Khartoum on Tuesday. After this announcement, police chief El Hussein said he expects the convicted gang leader to be sentenced to death on charges of looting, murder and terrorism.