The cable from the U.S. mission in the United Nations reported on a
briefing by Moreno-Ocampo to U.S. ambassadors Susan Rice and Alejandro Wolff
on March 20, 2009 in New York. The briefing took place days after ICC issued
an arrest warrant for Bashir on charges of genocide and war crimes.
The ICC prosecutor acknowledged that Bashir was being protected by Arab
countries and China. But Moreno-Ocampo said Bashir would soon lose both
international and domestic support should he face evidence of massive
embezzlement.
"Ocampo suggested simply exposing that Bashir had illegal accounts would
be enough to turn the Sudanese against him — as with [former Chilean
President Augusto] Pinochet," the cable said. "Ocampo suggested the U.S. and
the international community also needed to push for Bashir's arrest to
isolate him. Ocampo likened Bashir's situation to a 'bleeding shark being
surrounded by other sharks,' with no loyalty, only greed, motivating those
competing for power. By promoting the possibility of Bashir's arrest, Bashir
would be further marginalized within Sudan's ruling elite, Ocampo thought."
The cable did not identify the British banks said to have held Bashir's
funds. But Moreno-Ocampo, who later confirmed the briefing, said the
London-based Lloyd's could provide answers.
"Ocampo reported Lloyd's Bank in London might be holding or
knowledgeable of the whereabouts of his money," the cable said.
Hours after the cable was released by WikiLeaks on Dec. 18, Lloyd's
denied any connection to Bashir. In 2009, Lloyd's agreed to a $350 million
settlement on U.S. allegations of violating sanctions imposed on Iran, Libya
and Sudan.
China has been deemed the leading ally of the Bashir regime, which
denied the veracity of the U.S. cable. Beijing has invested heavily in
Sudan's crude oil sector, which included the export of weapons and military
trainers.
"Ocampo suggested it would be beneficial to reassure China that its
access to oil would not be jeopardized," the cable said. "If China believed
Bashir was becoming a destabilizing influence, Ocampo said China might be
more open to his removal as long as his replacement would guarantee support
for China's economic interests."