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Sudanese 'war crimes spy' jailed | Sudanese 'war crimes spy' jailed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Sudanese man has been jailed for 17 years for passing on sensitive files about a Darfur war crimes suspect to the International Criminal Court (ICC). | A Sudanese man has been jailed for 17 years for passing on sensitive files about a Darfur war crimes suspect to the International Criminal Court (ICC). |
Mohammed Alsary Ibrahim was convicted of spying, criminal conspiracy and passing on confidential military documents about a Sudanese minister. | Mohammed Alsary Ibrahim was convicted of spying, criminal conspiracy and passing on confidential military documents about a Sudanese minister. |
Mr Ibrahim, who denied the charges, is the first person in Sudan to be prosecuted for helping the ICC. | Mr Ibrahim, who denied the charges, is the first person in Sudan to be prosecuted for helping the ICC. |
Tension is high, as ICC judges decide whether to indict Sudan's president. | Tension is high, as ICC judges decide whether to indict Sudan's president. |
The ICC prosecutor has accused President Omar al-Bashir of responsibility for war crimes in Darfur, prompting angry responses from his government. | |
Mr Ibrahim was accused of trying to link Ahmed Haroun - Sudan's state minister for humanitarian affairs - with the Janjaweed militia, which is accused of widespread atrocities in Darfur. | Mr Ibrahim was accused of trying to link Ahmed Haroun - Sudan's state minister for humanitarian affairs - with the Janjaweed militia, which is accused of widespread atrocities in Darfur. |
'Harsh' | 'Harsh' |
The trial in Khartoum last month heard that Mr Ibrahim had been caught in a sting operation receiving secret documents from a Sudanese police contact. | The trial in Khartoum last month heard that Mr Ibrahim had been caught in a sting operation receiving secret documents from a Sudanese police contact. |
A security officer told the court Mr Ibrahim had planned to pass the files to a Sudanese-American contact for money so they could be handed to the global court. | A security officer told the court Mr Ibrahim had planned to pass the files to a Sudanese-American contact for money so they could be handed to the global court. |
Members of the Janjaweed are accused of atrocities in Darfur | Members of the Janjaweed are accused of atrocities in Darfur |
Mr Ibrahim, who has two weeks to appeal, remained silent as the verdict was read out but his three sisters burst into tears, AFP news agency reports. | Mr Ibrahim, who has two weeks to appeal, remained silent as the verdict was read out but his three sisters burst into tears, AFP news agency reports. |
Judge Abdel Wahab Ismael said the sentence was harsh but that the spying charge could have carried the death penalty, according to Reuters news agency. | Judge Abdel Wahab Ismael said the sentence was harsh but that the spying charge could have carried the death penalty, according to Reuters news agency. |
In 2007, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Ahmed Haroun on 51 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Sudan's western Darfur region in 2003 and 2004. | In 2007, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Ahmed Haroun on 51 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Sudan's western Darfur region in 2003 and 2004. |
Among the charges, which he denies, were the alleged murder and rape of civilians in Darfur while he served as minister of state for the interior. | Among the charges, which he denies, were the alleged murder and rape of civilians in Darfur while he served as minister of state for the interior. |
Sudan has always refused to hand him over. | Sudan has always refused to hand him over. |
The ICC is deciding whether also to indict President Bashir on 10 counts of genocide and other charges in Darfur, after prosecutors asked for an arrest warrant in July 2008. | The ICC is deciding whether also to indict President Bashir on 10 counts of genocide and other charges in Darfur, after prosecutors asked for an arrest warrant in July 2008. |
Sudan argues that such a move would only make things worse in Darfur. | Sudan argues that such a move would only make things worse in Darfur. |
After intense Sudanese lobbying, the African Union and Arab League have called for a one-year suspension of the legal process. | |
The UN estimates that up to 2.7 million people have been forced from their homes in Darfur and some 300,000 have died during nearly six years of conflict. | The UN estimates that up to 2.7 million people have been forced from their homes in Darfur and some 300,000 have died during nearly six years of conflict. |