By Umar Farooq
WASHINGTON (AA) – Video surveillance footage released Monday shows a Saudi operative wearing the clothes of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi after he was killed, in an attempt to cover up the murder.
The footage obtained by CNN, showed a man of similar age and physique to the Saudi journalist, who was one of 15 operatives who flew to Istanbul the same day Khashoggi arrived at the Saudi consulate.
Saudi authorities have shifted their narrative on what happened to Khashoggi, now saying he died as a result of a fistfight, after weeks of denying any involvement in his disappearance.
When his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, was waiting for him to return, Saudi authorities said Khashoggi left the building.
The man who left, Mustafa al-Madani, was not only wearing Khashoggi’s clothes, but he also had the same glasses and was sporting a fake beard.
The body double was seen entering the consulate at around 11 a.m., two hours prior to the arrival of Khashoggi. After leaving the consulate, Madani took a taxi to the Sultanahmet Mosque, one of the main tourist attractions in Istanbul.
He then went to a bathroom and switched out of Khashoggi's clothing to another outfit, but was carrying a plastic bag. He then arrived at a restaurant, and surveillance footage showed he removed a fake beard he was wearing.
At the restaurant, Madani threw the plastic bag in the trash, which Turkish officials believe contained Khashoggi's clothes, according to CNN.
The footage comes as a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation on the case Thursday after searching the residence of the kingdom’s consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
