Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who was ousted from power by the armed forces earlier this year, listened to the detective today without comment, reported Reuters.

He is charged with illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner.

Police brigadier general Ahmed Ali Mohamed testified that Bashir told the investigating team he had received $25m from Saudi Arabian Crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

He told the court Bashir said the money was for spending outside the state budget, but did not give any details on who received it other than it was used for “donations”.

Mohamed also said Bashir told police he received $65m, in two separate payments, from former Saudi King Abdullah.

When Bashir was arrested large amounts of cash in different currencies were found in his home, including 351,000 US dollars, more than 6 million euros and 5m Sudanese pounds, a judicial source said at the time.

His lawyer told reporters after the hearing on Monday: “Anyone in his occupation [has] to have foreign currency and it was in a room attached to his office in his presidential residence.”

Bashir, 75, became president in a coup in 1989.

The trial will be marked as a test of whether the authorities are serious about erasing the legacy of his rule, marred by widespread violence, economic collapse and the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Reuters said.