Mahamat Said Abdel Kani is accused of running a detention centre where people suspected of supporting the former president, Francois Bozize, were tortured.

He denies the charges.

Mr Kani was in court to see his lawyers complain that the case was based on presumptions and was bound to fail.

On Monday, the prosecutor presented photographs of the alleged torture of civilians.

The Central African Republic has been in chaos since Mr Bozize was overthrown in 2013 by a mainly-Muslim rebel group.