Saudi intelligence team fingered in journalist’s disappearance

TURKISH pro-government newspaper Sabah said yesterday it had identified a 15-member intelligence team it said was involved in the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi was last seen a week ago entering the consulate in Istanbul to get documents related to his forthcoming marriage. His fiancée, waiting outside, said he never emerged and Turkish sources said they believe Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Saudi policies, was killed inside the mission.

Reacting to the Khashoggi disappearance, the leader of Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu called on the government yesterday to expel Saudi Arabian diplomats in light of the recent disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.

Media reports have said that Turkish investigators believe the journalist was murdered inside the consulate, but Saudi Arabia has denied the allegations.

“Saudi diplomats… should be expelled from the country. They should be declared personae non gratae (unwelcome persons). Turkey should not cover up for criminals,” Kilicdaroglu said while addressing the CHP parliamentary faction.

The Turkish NTV broadcaster reported yesterday that Saudi forensic expert Mohammed al-Tubaigy allegedly was in a group of 15 Saudi nationals who arrived in Turkey on the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance.

The broadcaster has published surveillance camera images showing cars with these Saudi nationals approaching the Saudi Consulate General in Istanbul, and al-Tubaigy entering the building approximately an hour before Khashoggi’s visit.

According to the Saudi Consulate General, Khashoggi disappeared after leaving the building.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Saudi Arabia should prove that Khashoggi had, in fact, left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

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