Detective tells court that Sudan President received millions from Saudi Arabia

A detective has told a court in Sudan that former President Omar al-Bashir admitted to receiving millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia.

The ousted president appeared in court on Monday to face corruption charges.

He was ousted in April after months of protests, bringing an end to his nearly 30 years in power.

Bashir listened to the testimony without comment, sitting in a metal cage and wearing traditional white robes and a turban in his first appearance in a Khartoum courtroom.

He is charged with illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner. Bashir’s lawyer dismissed the accusations, telling reporters after the hearing it was usual for leaders to hold amounts of foreign currency.

In June, prosecutors said a large hoard of foreign currency had been found in grain sacks at his home.

On Sunday, pro-democracy activists and the country's military leaders, who had removed Bashir, signed a deal paving the way for elections.

Police investigator Ahmed Ali Mohamed told the court that Bashir admitted to receiving $25m (£21m) from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

He also said the 75-year-old former president got other money from Saudi Arabia.

Bashir faces charges related to "possessing foreign currency, corruption and receiving gifts illegally".

In April, Sudan's military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said more than $113m (£93m) worth of cash in Sudanese pounds and foreign currency had been seized from Bashir's home.