The Empowerment Removal Committee arrested Sudanese businessman, Muawiya al-Barir, in connection with a report regarding the seizure of a cotton gin in Sennar, before deciding to release him on bail.
AlTaghyeer: Khartoum: Ala’a Musa
On Thursday, Empowerment Removal Committee arrested businessman Muawiya Muhammad Ahmed al-Barir, on the background of a report against him of seizing Kassab’s cotton gins in the state.
According to the committee, and with the help of former Sennar governor Ahmed Abbas, al-Barir seized the Kassab cotton gins in 2012 for $3 million, while the actual value of the gins is estimated at more than $13 million.
Last July, the Sinja Criminal Court issued a ruling convicting the former governor of Sennar Ahmed Abbas of administrative corruption, abuse of power, breach of trust, and ordered his placement in a correctional institution for two years.
The rapporteur of the committee, Ali Tariq al-Arsh, told AlTaghyeer that the Khartoum State Public Prosecution Office had arrested al-Barir, and he was interrogated at the committee’s headquarters.
He added that the appointed Public Prosecutor decided to release him on a bond of 22 million pounds.
For his part, Omar Ahmed Dafa’aallah, al-Barir’s lawyer, said in a press statement on Thursday that the committee had opened a complaint against his client regarding claims by farmers who were among the shareholders in the Sennar Gin Company prior to its purchase by Muawiyah Al-Barir Investment Company.
He said that the matter was submitted to a higher agent of the Empowerment Removal Prosecution, who ordered the continuation of the investigation into the incident after a financial guarantee was deposited in his client’s name.
Dafa’aallah confirmed that al-Barir is now at his home.
On December 24, the Sennar Empowerment Removal Committee issued a decision to seize all fixed and movable assets belonging to “Abu Naama Food Production Company Limited”, owned by al-Barir.
