Khashoggi’s fiancee urges leaders to ensure no cover-up of killing

The fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi has called on Donald Trump and other leaders to ensure his death is not covered up.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara last week. Picture: AP

The Turkish fiancee of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi has called on US President Donald Trump and other world leaders to ensure that his death in Istanbul is not covered up, while Saudi Arabia’s top prosecutor visited the Saudi consulate where officials from his government killed the writer.

Speaking at a memorial in London on Monday, Hatice Cengiz expressed disappointment in the “leadership of many countries.” Singling out Trump, she urged him to “help reveal the truth and ensure justice be served.” “He should not pave the way for a cover-up of my fiance’s murder. Let’s not let money taint our conscience and compromise our values,” she said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor to find out who ordered the murder of Khashoggi, and not spare “certain people” in his investigation.

“Who sent these 15 people? As Saudi public prosecutor, you have to ask that question, so you can reveal it,” Mr Erdogan said, referring to the 15-man team suspected of being behind the hit.

“Now we have to solve this case. No need to prevaricate, it makes no sense to try to save certain people.”

Khashoggi was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not yet been found.

The Washington Post contributor, who had criticised the kingdom’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 2017.

After Turkish media published gruesome reports of torture and decapitation, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi, a former insider turned critic, was killed in­side the consulate. Riyadh has detained 18 suspects as it seeks to draw a line under the crisis, which has damaged the kingdom’s reputation abroad.

After denying any knowledge of what happened to Khashoggi for almost three weeks, Saudi authorities have now accepted that the killing was “premeditated”.

The head of the Saudi investigation, Attorney-General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, arrived in Turkey this week and met twice with Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan. Mr Erdogan said that during the talks Mr Fidan requested the 18 suspects be sent to Turkey for trial, as the killing took place in Istanbul. The Istanbul prosecutor’s office last week prepared a written request for the extradition of the 18 suspects “involved in the premeditated murder”, the Justice Ministry said, but Riyadh rejected Ankara’s request.

Mr Erdogan also urged Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to explain who the “local co-conspirators” were that were reportedly given Khashoggi’s body after his death.

“Again either the Saudi Foreign Minister or the 18 suspects must explain who the local co-conspirators are. Let’s know who this co-conspirator is, we can shed further light. We cannot let this subject end midway.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu yesterday said there was “an advantage in our prosecutors sharing information and working together”. “The co-operation must continue, but it must not be drawn out. The investigation must be completed as soon as possible so that the whole truth is revealed,” he said in Istanbul.

Asked about the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body, Mr Cavusoglu said that “as those who committed the murder are in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia has a very large responsibility”.

According to Turkey broadcaster TRT, Mr Mojeb asked Turkish investigators to hand over the full findings of their own probe, but the request was rejected. TRT said the Turkish prosecutor then demanded Mr Mojeb give up any information of the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday said Mr Jubeir had assured him Riyadh would conduct a “full” investigation, adding he was confident the probe would include Turkey’s findings.

Saudi authorities have arrested 18 men over the murder, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has requested the suspects be extradited for trial in ­Turkey.

However, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected the request, saying the men would be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia, dismissing media “hysteria”.

Mr Erdogan has also questioned why Saudi Arabia will not reveal the location of the body, as well as details of who carried out the hit.

Mr Erdogan has said that a 15-person team travelled from ­Riyadh to kill Khashoggi, carrying out reconnaissance outside Istanbul and deactivating security cameras at the consulate. The Turkish President, who has stopped short of directly blaming the Saudi government, has also indicated his country has more evidence to ­reveal about the killing.

Gruesome reports in the Turkish media have alleged that Khashoggi’s body was cut up into multiple pieces.

Turkish investigators have searched for the body in a forest near Istanbul, as well as using a ­robotic arm to inspect the sewers around the Saudi consulate.

Saudi authorities denied Turkish police permission to search a well in the garden of the consulate, but did allow them to take water samples for analysis, local media reported.

Riyadh initially said Khash­oggi left the consulate unharmed, but as pressure grew, Saudi state media changed the story and said Khashoggi died when an argument descended into a brawl.

The story was undercut by footage, which Mr Erdogan confirmed, of a Saudi official acting as a body double for Khashoggi, wearing the journalist’s clothes when leaving the consulate to pretend to be the dead man.

Beyond the detention of the 18 suspects, five Saudi intelligence chiefs have been sacked, including two who were part of the crown prince’s inner circle.

AFP