The statements were made by Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
“We are being careful so nobody tries to cover the issue up. The truth will come out. Those responsible will be punished, something like this will not cross anybody’s mind any more,” said Celik, who was referring to surveillance footage aired by CNN showing a man dressed as Khashoggi walking around Istanbul after he vanished in an apparent attempt at deception.
Also, one of Erdogan’s advisers - Yasin Aktay - wrote in the Yeni Safak daily that Riyadh’s version of events “feels like our intelligence is being mocked”.
The security official ( Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb) heading a team of 15 Saudis allegedly sent to Istanbul, called the head of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman’s office, Bader al-Asaker, “four times after the murder”, the adviser added.
Also, Al Jazeera said – citing a report by Middle East Eye - Turkish officials believe that part of Khashoggi’s body was taken out of Turkey by a “well-known travel companion of Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman’s bodyguards. Mutreb is reported to have been seen carrying a large bag, which was not checked as he bypassed security checks through a VIP lounge at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport.
Abdulkadir Selvi, whose Hurriyet newspaper columns are closely watched for indications of Erdogan’s thinking, wrote that Khashoggi was slowly strangled to death before a Saudi forensic specialist cut his body into 15 pieces while listening to music.
“We cannot close this file until the crown prince is brought to account and removed from his post,” said Selvi.
Erdogan has vowed to reveal today the “naked truth” about the death of Khashoggi, 59. “From the start, the line of our president has been clear. Nothing will remain secret in this case,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters, a day ahead of Erdogan’s key speech on the case.
With Khashoggi’s remains still missing, Turkish police found an abandoned car belonging to the Saudi consulate in an underground car park in the Sultangazi district of Istanbul, state media said.
The car had diplomatic number plates and registration documents showed it belonged to the consulate, according to reports.
However, NTV broadcaster reported that the Saudi consulate did not give permission for Turkish authorities to search the car.
Meanwhile, five Turkish employees of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul gave statements as witnesses under the investigation into the killing of Khashoggi, Turkish broadcaster NTV said yesterday.
Twenty consulate workers, including the consul’s driver, gave statements to prosecutors in relation to the incident last week, NTV had reported previously. Prosecutors are seeking statements from a total of 45 employees, CNN Turk said.
