Saudi sentences five to death, three to jail over Khashoggi killing

 

FILE PHOTO: A demonstrator holds a poster with a picture of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Turkey October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

 

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Monday sentenced five people to death and three more to jail terms totalling 24 years over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October last year.

 

Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor and spokesman Shalaan al-Shalaan, reading out the verdict in the trial, said the court dismissed charges against the remaining three of the 11 people that had been on trial, finding them not guilty.

 

Khashoggi was a U.S. resident and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler. He was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, where he had gone to receive papers ahead of his wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.

 

The killing caused a global uproar, tarnishing the crown prince’s image. The CIA and some Western governments have said they believe Prince Mohammed ordered the killing, but Saudi officials say he had no role. Eleven Saudi suspects were put on trial over his death in secretive proceedings in Riyadh.

 

In the investigation into the murder, 21 were arrested and 10 were called in for questioning without arrest, Shalaan said.

 

Riyadh’s criminal court pronounced the death penalty on five individuals, whose names have not yet been released, “for committing and directly participating in the murder of the victim”.

 

The three sentenced to prison were given various sentences totalling 24 years “for their role in covering up this crime and violating the law”.

 

Shalaan added that the investigations proved there was no “prior enmity” between those convicted and Khashoggi.

 

The verdicts can still be appealed.

 

Last November the Saudi prosecutor said that Saud al-Qahtani, a former high-profile Saudi royal adviser, had discussed Khashoggi’s activities before he entered the Saudi consulate with the team which went on to kill him.

 

The prosecutor said Qahtani acted in coordination with deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Asiri, who he said had ordered Khashoggi’s repatriation from Turkey and that the lead negotiator on the ground then decided to kill him.

 

Both men were dismissed from their positions but while Asiri went on trial, Qahtani did not.

 

On Monday Shalaan said Asiri has been released due to insufficient evidence, and Qahtani had been investigated but was not charged and had been released.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-23

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I think they missed someone.

nobody with any decency will buy this appeasement..

38 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

nobody with any decency will buy this appeasement..

Why? 

1 minute ago, alex8912 said:

Why? 

because it's not about blood, it's about accountability..

54 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Saudi sentences five to death, three to jail over Khashoggi killing

Some of them might have even be involved in the killing.

3 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

because it's not about blood, it's about accountability..

Meh 

sad part about it is that their fan club (ya know, the folks who make a killing - ptp - from the K.S.A.) are going to eat this garbage right up while the prince of evil carries on with his homicidal ways

Edited December 23, 20196 yr by from the home of CC

5 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Why? 

Because anyone with half a brain knows the Crown Prince was behind it.

I hope that they, at least had something to do with it and aren't total scapegoats...

5 fall guys, loyalty is a thing of the past, normally there is 'honour among thieves'. The crown prince was probably advised by Trump.

Does this remind anyone of the framing of the innocent Burmese men on Dark Tao, for the murders committed by the son of the headman of Sairee Beach? The phrase "above the law" comes to mind. Same with MBS, and his squad of assassins. This could only be expected from this despot regime. MBS is an enemy of the planet. 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Riyadh’s criminal court pronounced the death penalty on five individuals, whose names have not yet been released,

It wouldn't surprise me a bit if the names are never released because the names don't exist.  Either that or they rounded up some nobodys and just put them to death.  MBS isn't going to punish people for following his orders.  But this bogus news will allow certain people (read D. Trump) to lay off sanctions on Saudi Arabia and say "See, MBS is just as upset about this murder as we are!"

Sentence will be commuted to living a life of luxury and freedom within Saudi Arabia.

There were at least three times as many people involved-I wonder how they rated them to die-likable, looks, family, money, connections...?

 

kind of a bummer because they had no choice but to participate-if anyone is actually going to die at all that is 

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by Redline

When the Saudi 'justice' system is totally controlled by the ruling royal family, it is always going to be scapegoats charged with any crime involving the royals.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1371521/saudi-arabia

 

BTW the king now makes few if any decisions not advised by MBS.

22 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Why? 

Because those being ordered executed by the Crown Prince were carrying out the orders of...the Crown Prince! 

23 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

nobody with any decency will buy this appeasement..

Trump will.  of course he has no decency.

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by Skeptic7

1 hour ago, Skeptic7 said:

Because those being ordered executed by the Crown Prince were carrying out the orders of...the Crown Prince! 

Oh. You know him?  It could not have been any other person ( brother ) you must know that family quite well lol. 

12 hours ago, soalbundy said:

5 fall guys, loyalty is a thing of the past, normally there is 'honour among thieves'. The crown prince was probably advised by Trump.

Yea reminds me of when they held all the relatives prisoner in the 6 star hotel and emptied their bank accounts based on allegations of corruption - hell they're all corrupt, but that was a great cash infusion to the predominant members. This guy is seriously blood thirsty, I can't imagine what is going on behind the scenes..

I seem to remember that old saying , search for the guilty  .....  followed by  punishment of the innocent !

13 hours ago, soalbundy said:

5 fall guys, loyalty is a thing of the past, normally there is 'honour among thieves'. The crown prince was probably advised by Trump.

Well that did not take long for the US/Trump haters to kick in! Why is it the US responsibility to take care of it? He was not a US citizen. He had a visa for a rage news paper that he some times wrote articles for. He was on Saudi soil. He was killed by his own people. Does the US have to worry about every one that gets a visa, no we don’t? There are people all over the world locked up, killed by their government (Iran, Russia, could go on forever) that’s had a US Visa. If it bothers you so much take your ass to SA and protest.

 

 

You bitch if the US gets involved and the old (why don’t you mind your own business) now you are crying and slinging snot because we don’t get involved. Hes not our problem.

Here is an idea, have your country do something about it if it bothers you so much. On, that’s right, they can’t. But no, it’s the hate the US/Trump TDS. I and 99.99 other people could care less about this, bunch of Muslims kill another Muslim, go figure. Take your meds this morning girls!

Edited December 24, 20196 yr by allen303

2 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Trump will.  of course he has no decency.

It's already starting...

"Today's verdicts were an important step in holding those responsible for this terrible crime accountable," a US Department of State official told reporters after the ruling. 

 

It's interesting to compare the US reaction to those of other countries or institutions.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/turkey-rights-groups-decry-saudi-verdict-khashoggi-murder-191223171239748.html

Off-topic post removed.  

 

16 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Because those being ordered executed by the Crown Prince were carrying out the orders of...the Crown Prince! 

He who lives by the order, dies by the order.

Having lived and worked in KSA for many years Im not convinced by these sentences just yet, I was there in 1972 when the then king's favorite grand daughter was shagging one of the servants, in my opinion nothing happened to her although it was claimed otherwise the servant got his head chopped off was well published infact it was all over the front page of the Daily Mirror

So im calling B/S on this one for now