A former UK student has been named as a suspect in the disappearance and torture of missing Saudi Arabian journalist.
Jamal Khashoggi was last seen inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.
Now, it has been revealed Dr. Salah al-Tubaigy, an autopsy expert who studied in Glasgow in 2004, is reportedly one of the suspects in the hit squad accused of torturing and killing Mr. Khashoggi, according to the New York Times .
Former advisor to the Saudi Arabian royal family, Jamal Khashoggi fell out of favour with the establishment and went into self-imposed exile.
The renowned critic of the Saudi leadership, who also worked as a columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen entering the consulate on October 2 in order to get paperwork to marry his Turkish partner Hatice Cengiz, reports the Daily Record.
He hasn’t been seen since.
The Middle East Eye reported earlier today that a recording from an anonymous Turkish source captured audio taken from Mr. Khashoggi’s own apple watch.
The recording is said to reveal his final grim moments, in which he was dragged from the Saudi Consul General’s office onto a table in a next-door study, before he endured a horrific seven-minute ordeal as he was butchered alive.
The New York Times named Dr. Salah al-Tubaigy among 15 suspects so far identified by the Turkish authorities.
The Times also names nine other high-ranking officials from the oil rich country who could have been part of the death squad involved in Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.
Dr. Salah Al-Tubaigy identifies himself on his Twitter account as head of the Saudi Scientific Council of Forensics.
He holds senior positions in the Saudi Interior Ministry and medical establishment, a “figure of such stature that he could be directed only by a high-ranking Saudi authority”, The New York Times writes.
Turkish officials say they possess evidence that the 15 Saudi agents flew into Istanbul on Oct. 2, assassinated Mr. Khashoggi and dismembered his body with a bone saw within two hours of his arrival at the consulate. The are reported to have flown out the same day.
Dr. Salah Al-Tubaigy was pictured at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport on October 2, raising more suspicion around his involvement in the alleged torture case.
He has not publicly addressed the allegations. None of the suspects could be reached for comment.
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