The trial of former PM S.Bayar and other six people started at the Ulaanbaatar’s Chingeltei Criminal Court today (25 May) at 09.00 a.m. However, the trial was postponed practically as soon as it began because of a sharp deterioration in S.Bayar’s health. The trial has now been rescheduled to 15 June.

S.Bayar and other six people are accused of the abuse of power and getting rich unlawfully.

Former prime ministers S.Bayar and Ch.Saikhanbileg were arrested by the the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) in 2018.

The IAAC is investigating into possible abuse of power by certain government officials during the negotiations for the Oyu Tolgoi agreements, namely the Investment Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited, signed on October 6, 2009, and the Oyu Tolgoi Underground Mine Development and Financing Plan, signed on May 18, 2015.

Former Prime Ministers S.Bayar, who was in office in 2007-2009, and Ch.Saikhanbileg, who led the Cabinet in 2014-2016, has thus been put under arrest in the course of the investigation.