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A number of employees of the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul testified as part of an ongoing probe into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a judicial source said on Monday.
Five Turkish employees of the Saudi Consulate said in their testimonies that they weren't given a day off on Oct. 2 and left the consulate when their shift ended at 3.30 p.m. local time (1230GMT).
Khashoggi was last seen at 1.14 p.m. (1014GMT) on Oct. 2, when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Among those who testified to the prosecutors assigned by the terror and organized crimes unit of Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, a consulate staff -- employed as a driver -- spoke to the reporters after his testimony at Istanbul Court House in Caglayan district.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for a "transparent and thorough" investigation into the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a meeting on Monday with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, the foreign minister of the Asian nation said.Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has drawn international criticism, with the kingdom on Sunday calling it a "huge and grave mistake", while adding that crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware of the case.Indonesia's foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, told reporters Widodo had met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and "expressed concern" over the case."Indonesia hopes the investigation being carried out is transparent and thorough," Marsudi said after the meeting at the presidential palace, which she attended.France ‘strongly’ condemns killing of Saudi journalistNew Zealand will not attend Saudi investment summit over Khashoggi deathTrump, Europeans call Saudi account of Khashoggi death inadequate
Indonesia hopes for 'transparent and thorough' probe of Khashoggi killing
The employee said the prosecutors asked them whether there was an extraordinary thing happened on Oct. 2 in the consulate or they saw Khashoggi and 15 other Saudis, how long they were employed in the consulate, where they are from and the working hours of the staff.
As for the answers, the driver said they did not sense extraordinary situation on the day when Khashoggi entered the consulate, the testifier was not sent to anywhere out of the consulate, and the working hours began at 9 a.m. (0600GMT) and ended 3.30 p.m. (1230GMT) local time.
The driver added that the employees left the building as usual when their shift ended on Oct. 2.
Upon the questions of journalists, he said that he knew Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi, who left Turkey for Riyadh last week.
Germany wants other European Union member states to follow its example in stopping arms exports to Saudi Arabia as long as uncertainty remains over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Monday.Riyadh has given multiple and conflicting accounts on what led to Khashoggi's death on Oct. 2 at its consulate in Istanbul. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir called the killing a "huge and grave mistake" but sought to shield Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince.Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that Germany would stop arms exports to Saudi Arabia as long as the uncertainty around Khashoggi's death persisted.Saudi king, prince condole with Khashoggi familyAltmaier, a close ally of Merkel, said Riyadh's explanations on the case so far had not been satisfactory."The government is in agreement that we will not approve further arms exports for the moment because we want to know what happened," Altmaier told ZDF broadcaster.So far this year the German government had approved weapons exports worth more than 400 million euros ($462 million) to Saudi Arabia, making it the second-biggest recipient of German arms after Algeria.Asked whether Germany would roll back previously agreed arms deals with Saudi, he said a decision would be made "very soon".Khashoggi's fiancee receives police protectionAltmaier said other EU states should stop arms exports to Saudi Arabia in order to increase pressure on Riyadh over the Khashoggi case."For me it would be important that we come to a joint European stance," Altmaier said."Because only if all European countries are in agreement, it will make an impression on the government in Riyadh. It will not have any positive consequences if we halt arms exports but other countries at the same time fill the gap."Senior German politicians have also urged Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser over the weekend to pull out of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia later this week.Pakistan welcomes Turkish-Saudi contacts on KhashoggiGermany stops arms exports to Saudi ArabiaErdoğan to make statement on Khashoggi killing TuesdayBin Salman wasn't aware of Khashoggi killing: Saudi FM
Germany urges other EU states to also stop arms exports to Saudi Arabia
Later, the witnesses left the courthouse.
The remaining 17 personnel -- both Turkish and foreign nationals -- are expected to appear at the courthouse for submitting their testimony as part of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's probe, the sources added.
Last week, a total of 23 consulate employees had also spoken to the prosecutors.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
Saudi King Salman and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have offered their condolences to the family of veteran journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.The Saudi monarch expressed his deep condolences during a telephone call he made with Khashoggi’s son Salah on Sunday, according to the official SPA news agency.Salah, for his part, thanked the Saudi king for his condolences, SPA said.In another telephone call with Khashoggi’s son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his condolences to the family and relatives of the Saudi journalist.Khashoggi's fiancee receives police protectionKhashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will make a statement on Khashoggi’s killing on Tuesday during his party's group meeting at the parliament.Pakistan welcomes Turkish-Saudi contacts on KhashoggiGermany stops arms exports to Saudi ArabiaErdoğan to make statement on Khashoggi killing TuesdayBin Salman wasn't aware of Khashoggi killing: Saudi FM
Saudi king, prince condole with Khashoggi family
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will make a statement on Khashoggi’s killing on Tuesday during his party's group meeting at the parliament.
Istanbul’s governorate on Sunday ruled a protection order for Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.The Istanbul Governor’s Office has ordered the protection for Cengiz, said a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.As part of the order, the Istanbul Police Department will give security to Cengiz, who is a doctoral student in Istanbul.Meanwhile, the national and international press members continue to wait in front of the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to receive further information about the killing of the Saudi journalist.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Germany stops arms exports to Saudi ArabiaErdoğan to make statement on Khashoggi killing TuesdayBin Salman wasn't aware of Khashoggi killing: Saudi FM
Khashoggi's fiancee receives police protection
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday said he will make a statement on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi Tuesday."On this issue [Khashoggi’s killing], I will make statements hopefully on Tuesday during the [ruling Justice and Development Party’s weekly] group meeting," he said at the opening ceremony of the driverless metro line on the Asian side of Istanbul."Why did these 15 people came here [in Istanbul], why were 18 people arrested [in Saudi Arabia]? These need to be explained in detail," he said.Erdoğan said that he would address the issues "in detail" during the party’s group meeting on Tuesday.Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Bin Salman wasn't aware of Khashoggi killing: Saudi FMErdoğan, Trump hold phone conversation on Khashoggi
Erdoğan to make statement on Khashoggi killing Tuesday
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Sunday claimed journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and the crown prince was "not aware" of it.“The Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman] has denied this, he is not aware of this. This was an operation that was a rogue operation,” Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News.Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.Al-Jubeir said none of those involved in the killing of Khashoggi had close ties to the crown prince."This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the responsibilities they had and they made the mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate and they tried to cover up for it,” he said.When asked how did a 60-year-old columnist resisted the 15 security forces, al-Jubeir said: "I don’t believe all 15 members were in the consulate when this happened. We are looking at every individual member of the team. We’re trying to find out how they were assembled."On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.He also replied to a U.S. lawmaker’s claim which said he was “certain” that the crown prince was “involved and he directed” the killing, saying that it was not based on facts but emotions.Stating that "it was a tremendous mistake," the Saudi FM offered his condolences to Khashoggi’s family.He also said that they did not know the details of killing, and "where the body is."A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Erdoğan, Trump hold phone conversation on KhashoggiUS senator Corker says he believes Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggi deathForeigners sold net $1.1 bln of Saudi stocks in week to Oct 18Turkey will not allow cover-up in Khashoggi killing, sees 'dire' consequences: AKP officialGermany calls for united response to Khashoggi killing
Bin Salman wasn't aware of Khashoggi killing: Saudi FM