Court refuses government leave to appeal Al Bashir case

www.bdlive.co.za/national/2015/10/02/bashir-arrest-still-an-issue-state-argues

THE government has turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal, asking it to overturn the High Court order that it must arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, saying the order was a "first in legal history" and that it was wrong in law.

The government is still being excoriated for allowing Mr Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, to flee SA in June — despite an interim court order that he should not be allowed to leave.

His dramatic escape — which unfolded as the court was hearing argument on the issue — earned the government a stern rebuke by the High Court in Pretoria for an apparent disregard for the rule of law. The High Court later refused to grant leave to appeal against its judgment, so the government has now approached the Supreme Court of Appeal, insisting that the dispute is still relevant — as Mr Bashir may return to SA — and that there was "a very good prospect" that the appeal court would come to a different conclusion.