Saudi courts continue to carry out the prosecution of defendants in the case of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with eight sessions having been held since January.
“The Saudi judiciary is still considering the case that took place at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, and the courts are in constant communication with the public prosecutor about any development in the case or new evidence or statements,” sources with knowledge of the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Sources pointed out that Saudi Public Prosecution trials for this case are taking place in the presence of representatives of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, as well as the presence of a Turkish representative and representatives of Saudi human rights organizations.
“Some defendants confessed during their trial that they killed Jamal Khashoggi… the prosecution requested the death penalty for five of the accused,” sources added.
Saudi leadership has emphasized the need to hold all those involved in Khashoggi’s murder accountable. This was reaffirmed during Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman’s interview with CBS, where he described the death as a “heinous crime.”
“Today the investigations are being carried out. And once charges are proven against someone, regardless of their rank, it will be taken to court, no exception made,” the Crown Prince also said.
On the other hand, Salah Khashoggi, son of the murdered Saudi journalist, said on Monday that he will not accept the exploitation of his father’s case by his country’s “opponents and enemies.”
“A year has passed since the death of my beloved father. During that time, my country’s opponents and enemies east and west sought to exploit his case, may he rest in peace, to harm my country and leadership,” tweeted Salah Khashoggi.
“I repeat what I have said in the past, I have absolute confidence in Saudi Arabia’s judiciary, in its ability to retrieve justice from the perpetrators of this heinous crime. And I will be as Jamal Khashoggi was, loyal to God, then to my country, and its leadership,” he added.
