Saudi Arabia sentences 5 to death over Khashoggi's murder

RIYADH - Saudi Public Prosecution on Monday sentenced five people to death over the case of Jamal Khashoggi's killing, Al Arabiya TV reported.

Three others were given jail terms, and all can appeal the verdicts, said spokesperson of the Public Prosecution Shalaan Al Shalaan at a press conference.

He revealed that representatives from Khashoggi's family and officials from Turkey attended the court session.

He said that 11 individuals were charged in the cases and were in custody, in which former Deputy Intelligence Chief Ahmed al-Asiri was released for insufficient evidence. Meanwhile, Saud al-Qahtani, the advisor at the Royal Court, was investigated in the case but was not charged.

The spokesperson said that the penalties are not final, and the convicts could appeal the verdicts.

Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey in October 2018, and a number of top Saudi officials were arrested in connection with the case. The Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also ordered to re-structure the intelligent authority.