Jamal Khashoggi Killing: Saudi Arabia Seeks Death Penalty for Five Accused of Murdering
Saudi prosecutors said on Thursday that they have requested the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Riyadh, November 15: Saudi prosecutors said on Thursday that they have requested the death penalty for five people who they say were involved in murdering Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
A total of 11 people were charged, the Saudi Public Prosecutor's office said, adding that the five people facing capital punishment were directly involved in "ordering and executing the crime", according to a report in CNN.
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was killed inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 after he went there to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Jamal Khashoggi Killing: Murder-Related Audio Recordings, Transcripts Shared With French Intelligence, Claims Turkey.
The Saudis had presented conflicting stories about the journalist's death, initially denying any knowledge before arguing that a group of rogue operators were responsible for his death.
After the kingdom admitted that Khashoggi was killed in its consulate in Turkey, five high-ranking officials were dismissed, including Bin Salman's media chief and the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence service, and 18 people were arrested.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 05:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).