UN report: “Credible evidence” Saudi Crown prince responsible for Khashoggi killing

There is "sufficient credible evidence" Saudi Arabia's crown prince and other senior Saudi officials are liable for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a United Nations rights investigator said in the first independent investigation into the death.

In a much-anticipated report, released Wednesday, UN investigator Agnes Callamard said that Saudi Arabia was responsible under international law for the "deliberate, premeditated execution" of Khashoggi and current sanctions on some senior officials do not go far enough.

There was no immediate reaction from Riyadh which was sent the 100-page report in advance - but the kingdom has regularly denied accusations that the prince was involved.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his personal assets abroad should be hit by "targeted sanctions," the report recommends, "until and unless evidence is provided and corroborated that he carries no responsibilities for this execution."

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Prince Mohammad Bin Salman died after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

His body was dismembered and removed from the building, the Saudi prosecutor has said, and his remains have not been found.

While Riyadh initially denied any knowledge of the incident, Saudi officials later claimed that a group of rogue operators, many of whom belong to Saudi crown prince's inner circle, were responsible for the journalist's death.

The Saudi attorney general later acknowledged that Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated murder.

Callamard went to Turkey earlier this year with a team of forensic and legal experts and said she received evidence from Turkish authorities.

“There is credible evidence, warranting further investigation of high-level Saudi officials’ individual liability, including the Crown Prince’s”, she said.

“Indeed, this human rights inquiry has shown that there is sufficient credible evidence regarding the responsibility of the Crown Prince demanding further investigation,” she added, urging U.N. Secretary-General to establish an international probe.