By Ferdi Turkten
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will officially demand from Saudi Arabia the extradition of 18 suspects in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish Justice Ministry said on Friday.
In a statement, the ministry said Istanbul prosecutors have prepared a requisition for 18 suspects on charges of planned and deliberate murder with monstrosity and torture.
The ministry referred the extradition request for the suspects – all of whom are Saudi nationals – to Turkish Foreign Ministry, the statement said.
Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2, when he was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
After weeks of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi had died inside the consulate building.
Turkish police have been investigating the case, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said 18 people arrested in Saudi Arabia over the killing should be sent to Turkey to face trial.
