RIYADH: Five people have been sentenced to death over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor said Monday. Khashoggi was killed in October last year when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Representatives from the Khashoggi family and from the Turkish embassy were present during the promulgation of the decision.
“We found that Khashoggi’s murder was not premeditated,” Saudi deputy general prosecutor Shalaan Al-Shalaan told a press conference. The Riyadh court held nine sessions in the Khashoggi case and verdict was issued in the tenth session. Three other people have also been sentenced to varying prison terms for covering up on the crime and violations of law for a total of 24 years in jail. No names were released for all of those found guilty, who could still appeal the Riyadh criminal court’s ruling.
The public prosecution will review the court’s decision and decide whether it will file an appeal at the Appellate Court, state news agency SPA reported. The court also exonerated the Saudi consul-general in Istanbul at that time, Mohammed Al-Otaibi, and two other individuals. He was released after the verdicts were announced, according to Saudi state TV. Up to 31 individuals were included in the investigation, 21 of whom have been arrested, and 10 were called in for questioning without arrest as there was basis for their detention, the prosecutor said in a statement. Among those interrogated was the former royal court advisor Saud Qahtani, who has not been interrogated and was released.
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