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Posted: 24 October 2018 10:47:59
Saudi Arabia arrested 18 people and fired five senior government officials as part of an investigation into the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. [19659005] Khashoggi, columnist for the Washington Post and critic of Saudi politics, disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain documents attesting to his marriage.
Saudi Arabia first of all denied knowing his fate. Ur said that he had been killed during a fight at the consulate, an explanation that sparked international skepticism.
Turkish security sources said Khashoggi was seized by 15 Saudi intelligence agents when he entered the consulate.
A senior Saudi official confirmed to Reuters that he was among the 18 Saudis arrested, as well as three local suspects.
Most of them worked in the Saudi army or security. According to Saudi and Turkish officials and several sources with links to the royal court, the intelligence services, including the royal court.
The Turkish pro-government newspaper Sabah published photographs showing men taken from surveillance videos taken at the airport. , two hotels where they briefly registered, the consulate and the residence of the consul.
The following profiles of some of those arrested or returned are based on these. reports in the Saudi media and information from Saudi sources and officials.
SAUD Al-QAHTANI
Saud al-Qahtani, aged 40, considered Prince Mohammed's confidant, was dismissed from the office of a royal court most prominent figure involved in the incident.
Qahtani entered the royal court under the late King Abdullah. He made himself known as a confidant in the secret entourage of Prince Mohammed. He regularly spoke on behalf of the Crown Prince, known as MbS, and gave direct orders to senior officials, including within the security apparatus, sources close to the royal court said. .
Responsible for thwarting the alleged influence of Qataris on social media. Qahtani used Twitter to attack critics of the kingdom in general and Prince Mohammed in particular. He also used Twitter to attack critics and led a WhatsApp group with local newspaper publishers, dictating the line of the royal court.
Qahtani tried to lure Khashoggi back to Khashoggi after moving to Washington a year ago, fearing reprisals, according to relatives of the journalist and the government.
In a thread of August 2017 asking his 1.35 million followers to report accounts for the establishment of a blacklist for surveillance purposes, Qahtani wrote, "Do you think I make decisions without a guide? I am a faithful employee and executor of the orders of my lord the king and my lord the faithful crown prince. "
The senior Saudi official said that Qahtani had allowed one of his subordinates, Maher Mutreb, to lead what he said was supposed to be a negotiation for Khashoggi's return to the kingdom. also provided Mutreb with unspecified information based on his previous conversations with Khashoggi, said the official.
Qahtani did not respond to Reuters' questions Reuters could not contact Mutreb for comment.
MAHER MUTREB
General Maher Mutreb, a Qahtani collaborator for information security, was the chief negotiator in the consulate, according to the senior Saudi official He is a senior intelligence officer and part of Prince Mohammed's security team and has appeared on photographs with the Crown Prince during his official visits to the United States and Europe.
According to the Saudi official, Mutreb was selected for the Istanbul operation because he already knew Khashoggi since his joint experience at the Saudi Embbady.
"He knew Jamal very well and he was the best to convince him to come back," said the manager.
Mutreb received Khashoggi at the consul's office in Saudi Arabia at about 1:25 pm He started asking him to go home and claimed that he was wanted by Interpol, said this manager.
Khashoggi told Mutreb that he was violating diplomatic standards and asked him if Mutreb was considering kidnapping him. Mutreb said yes, he said, in an apparent attempt to intimidate Khashoggi.
The Sabah newspaper published images taken with surveillance cameras that appear to show that Mutreb entered the consulate three hours before Khashoggi, and later in front of the consul's home.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Mr. Mutreb had been first secretary for a period of 2007.
SALAH TUBAIGY
Salah Tubaigy is an expert in forensic science in the Department of Criminal Evidence of the Saudi Interior Ministry, according to a biography. published online by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
During the operation in Istanbul, he was supposed to remove evidence such as fingerprints or evidence of the use of force, according to the Saudi official.
Tubaigy spent three months in 2015. at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine of Australia to observe the procedures for investigating deaths and learn about the use of the computed tomography for mbad fatality accidents, director Noel Woodford told Reuters
Photographs from the institute's 2015 annual report, which resemble the suspect quoted by the Turkish media, show Tubaigy wearing medical gloves, a gown and rubber gloves in a laboratory and discussing separately with colleagues. ] Tubaigy did not respond to an email sent by Reuters
The Saudi Forensic Society listed him as a member of the board of directors. According to the biography, he earned a master's degree in forensics from the University of Glasgow in 2004. A spokesman for a university declined to comment.
Tubaigy is 47 years old, according to a copy of his pbadport provided to the American media by Turkish officials.
AHMED AL-ASIRI
Ahmed Al-Asiri, former Deputy Chief of General Intelligence, was among those fired by King Salman. According to Saudi media, he reportedly joined the army in 2002 and was the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in the Yemeni civil war in 2015.
Asiri was appointed Deputy Chief of External Intelligence by Royal Decree in April 2017. [19659006] Reuters could not contact Asiri for comments.
MOUSTAFA AL-MADANI
Mustafa al-Madani led the intelligence activities of the 15-man team in Istanbul, said the Saudi official.
According to this official, Madani put on Khashoggi's clothes, glbades and the Apple Watch before leaving the back door of the consulate to give the impression that the journalist had left the building.
Madani is a government employee who studied at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, according to a Facebook profile featuring photos resembling the suspect identified by the Turkish media .
Reuters could not reach Madani car. comment. University officials could not be contacted immediately for comment.
MESHAL SAAD ALBOSTANI
Meshal Saad Albostani is a lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force in the port city of Jeddah, on the Red Sea, according to a Facebook profile Several photographs resembling the suspect identified by the Turkish media.
The senior Saudi official says he is responsible for the logistics of the Istanbul team.
Albostani studied at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, according to Facebook. University officials contacted by Reuters said that they could not confirm the identity of this graduate.
A LinkedIn profile, identical to his name and photo, indicates that he has been serving in the air force since 2006. He is 31 years old, according to a copy of the pbadport provided. to US authorities by Turkish officials. Albostani could not be immediately contacted for comment.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM
Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Hawsawi is a member of the security team who travels with the Saudi Crown Prince, according to a new The York Times has quoted a French professional who worked with the royal family. He is 31 years old, according to a copy of the pbadport provided to the US media by Turkish officials. Reuters could not reach Hawsawi for comments.
General Rashad Bin Hamed al-Hamadi was removed from his post as Director of the General Directorate for Security and Protection in the General Intelligence Presidency.
General Abdullah bin Khaleef al-Shaya was removed from office as badistant. Chief of General Intelligence Human Resources. General Mohammed Saleh al-Ramih was removed from his post as Deputy Chief of General Intelligence. The three generals could not be reached for comment. (Published by Nick Tattersall)
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