Witnesses defend SPLM-N suspects in Sudan’s Sinja court

The special court of Sudan People Liberation Army-North (SPLM-N) detainees in Sinja, Sennar state, listened to more than 50 witnesses represented by the defence lawyer on Wednesday and Thursday, amid tightened security measures. The lawyer of the defendants, El Tijani Hassan, said that the first defendant, Minallah Hussein, has been accused of killing six citizens. Two of those, Hamid Osman and Hamed Abdo, have arrived at the court as witnesses for the defence. Hussein stressed that they are alive, along with the rest of those claimed to have been killed by the SPLM-N detainees. The court is headed by judge Abdel Munim Yunis. Hassan reported to Radio Tamazuj that the court accused 86 suspects who are now detained by the government and another 23 who are facing trial in absentia, including SPLM-N leader Malik Agar. The lawyer expressed concern due to the fact the charges against the accused could result in death sentences or life imprisonment. The 23 accused in absentia are facing charges under articles 21, 25, 50, 51,186, and 187 of the Sudanese Penal Code as well as articles 5 and 6 of Anti-terrorism Law and article 26 of Ammunition Law 1986. The 86 suspects in detention face charges under articles 21,50 and 51 of the Penal Code and article 6 of Anti-terrorism law, according Hassan.File photo: SPLM-N fighters pictured in Kurmuk in Blue Nile (RNW)