A Saudi Arabian court on Monday jailed eight people for between seven and 20 years for the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, state media reported, four months after his family forgave his killers and enabled death sentences to be set aside.
The trial was criticised by a U.N. official and human rights campaigners who said the masterminds of the murder remained free.
Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, where he had gone to obtain documents for his impending wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building and his remains have not been found.
The murder caused a global uproar and tarnished the reformist image of Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler and son of King Salman.
State media reported that five people were handed 20-year prison sentences, one person was sentenced to 10 years and two people received seven-year sentences for the killing.
None of the defendants was named.
The Khashoggi family's lawyer Motasem Khashoggi told Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper that the family welcomes the "fair and deterrent" ruling and is satisfied by it.
"The verdict is fair and deterrent to any criminal ... we as a family opted for applying (Islamic) Sharia laws since the beginning and there is no court in the world that applies sharia rules like in Saudi Arabia," Khashoggi told Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper.
"We have delegated our command to God and to our rulers, who have fulfilled their promise, all our thanks, appreciation, gratitude and loyalty goes to them," he added.
But Khashoggi's fiancee said the eight jailed were not the only ones responsible for the murder.
"The Saudi authorities are closing the case without the world knowing the truth of who is responsible for Jamal's murder," Hatice Cengiz wrote in a statement. "Who planned it, who ordered it, where is his body?"
In December, the court sentenced five people to death and three to jail, saying the killing was not premeditated but carried out on "the spur of the moment."
CRITICISM FROM ABROAD
Some Western governments, as well as the CIA, had said previously they believed Prince Mohammed had ordered the killing.
Saudi officials denied he played a role, although the prince in September 2019 indicated some personal accountability, saying that "it happened under my watch".
In May, the family of the slain journalist said it forgave his murderers, paving the way for a reprieve for the five defendants sentenced to death.
In Saudi Arabia, which lacks a codified legal system and follows Islamic law, forgiveness from a victim's family in such cases can allow for a formal pardon and a stay of execution.
A U.S. State Department official said Washington had seen reports of the sentencing and was "closely monitoring Saudi legal processes" in the case. "We call on Saudi authorities to ensure that all involved in Khashoggi’s killing, which King Salman rightly labeled a 'heinous crime,' are held accountable," the official said on condition of anonymity.
Many Saudis hailed Monday's ruling in comments on Twitter, a platform favoured by pro-government supporters. Some said the ruling ended one of the most difficult political cases the kingdom has faced. Others said the ruling made Saudi Arabia the "land of justice", a "country where rights are never lost."
But Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, accused Saudi Arabia of making a "mockery of justice" by not punishing more senior officials who, she said, were behind the murder.
She said on Twitter the trial was not fair or transparent and "the responsibility of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has not even been addressed."
Adam Coogle, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch, said the conviction of individuals "does not hide the fact that the Saudi legal process has shielded top officials from any and all scrutiny."
"How can the regime be accused of the murder and at the same time it is responsible for the trial?" said Yahia Assiri, founder of London-based Saudi rights group ALQST.
Turkey, which launched its own trial against 20 Saudi officials in July, said the verdict in Saudi Arabia fell short of expectations, urging Saudi authorities to cooperate with Turkey's investigation.
"We still don't know what happened to Khashoggi's body, who wanted him dead or if there were local collaborators – which casts doubt on the credibility of the legal proceedings in KSA," presidency communications director Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter, referring to Saudi Arabia.
Reuters
Tue Sep 08 2020
The Committee to Protect Journalists and other press freedom activists hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Saudi Embassy to mark the anniversary of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. REUTERSpic
Jualan penyaman udara naik mendadak di negara Balkan
Menetap di negara sejuk, mereka tidak pernah terfikir memasang penyaman udara di dalam rumah memandangkan musim panas bukanlah setiap hari. Namun, cuaca panas melampau membuatkan mereka bertukar fikiran.
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Kerajaan Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh ekstremis Zionis Israel pada 13 Ogos.
Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham
Ayah kepada penyanyi dan Youtubers Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar reda dengan pemergian anak lelakinya walaupun itu bukan pengakhiran yang beliau harapkan.
Ahli perniagaan diberkas, terlibat dalam aktiviti kumpulan mafia
Seorang ahli perniagaan Itali ditangkap di bandar Natal, Brazil pada selasa.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Srettha hormati keputusan mahkamah
Srettha Thavisin menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Perlembagaan Thailand yang memecatnya daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Lahir empat hari lepas, bayi kembar maut angkara serangan rejim Zionis
Kembar lelaki diberikan nama Asser manakala Ayssel pula nama diberi buat kembar perempuan, kedua-duanya lahir pada 10 Ogos lepas.
Lelaki tikam ibu saudara direman tujuh hari
Seorang lelaki yang disyaki menikam ibu saudaranya di kepala dengan gunting, semalam direman selama tujuh hari hingga 21 Ogos ini.
PN senarai pendek tiga calon, akan diumum selepas PRK Nenggiri
Perikatan Nasional telah menyenarai pendek tiga calon untuk bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 28 September depan.
10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu
Menurut PGOB kesemua mangsa yang cedera telah dikejarkan ke Hospital Bintulu untuk rawatan lanjut.
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham dibawa ke Hospital Shah Alam
Mayat Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar yang ditemukan di Sungai Klang petang tadi dibawa ke Unit Forensik Hospital Shah Alam (HSA) untuk urusan bedah siasat.
AS rayu keputusan beri pingat gangsa kepada gimnas Romania
Gimnastik AS mengemukakan bukti tambahan kepada Mahkamah Timbang Tara Sukan (CAS) untuk menyokong kes atlet Jordan Chiles harus mendapat pingat gangsa.
Lelaki ada hubungan dengan Iran rancang pembunuhan ahli politik di AS
Seorang lelaki Pakistan yang dipercayai mempunyai hubungan dengan Iran didakwa atas tuduhan merancang pembunuhan seorang ahli politik atau pegawai kerajaan di Amerika Syarikat (AS).
Houthi berjaya jatuhkan dron AS di Yaman
Pergerakan Houthi di Yaman berjaya menjatuhkan dron AS -MQ-9- di wilayah utara Saada di negara itu pada Ahad.
Operasi tebang pokok henti kebakaran merebak di California
Anggota bomba menjalankan operasi menebang pokok di sekitar Taman Mill di California dalam usaha menghentikan kebakaran hutan merebak pada Sabtu.
Menteri Palestin mahu AS desak Israel buka lintasan Rafah
Majed Abu Ramadan berkata tidak ada petunjuk bahawa pihak berkuasa Israel akan berbuat perkara berkenaan dalam masa terdekat.
Pesawat turun mendadak kurang dari 10 saat - Penumpang SIA
Salah sorang penumpang pesawat penerbangan Singapore Airlines (SIA) yang mengalami keadaan gelora udara (turbulent) kuat, Dzafran Azmir memberitahu kejadian berlaku dengan sangat pantas.
Microsoft minta pekerja mereka di China untuk berpindah negara
Antara pilihan yang diberikan termasuk AS, Ireland, Australia, dan New Zealand.
Mayat lelaki ditemui di sempadan Mexico- AS, cetus ketakutan migran lain
Pejabat pendakwa raya di utara Mexico menyiasat kematian seorang migran di sebuah lokasi bersempadan dengan Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Jumaat.
Baj langgar jambatan di AS akibatkan tumpahan minyak
Sebuah baj melanggar jambatan di Galveston, bandar di Pantai Teluk di negeri Texas Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Rabu menyebabkan tumpahan minyak ke teluk dan sebahagian jambatan itu runtuh.
Tentera AS edar gambar jeti maritim Gaza siap dibina
Beberapa gambar pembinaan jeti maritim oleh tentera Amerika Syarikat (AS) di Gaza untuk menghantar bantuan kemanusiaan telah diedarkan Komando Pusat AS pada Isnin.