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French court finds Saudi princess complicit in workman attack Paris court convicts Saudi princess over workman attack
(31 minutes later)
The daughter of the king of Saudi Arabia was complicit in beating up and briefly kidnapping a workman in her luxury flat Paris, a French court ruled on Thursday, giving her a 10-month suspended prison sentence.The daughter of the king of Saudi Arabia was complicit in beating up and briefly kidnapping a workman in her luxury flat Paris, a French court ruled on Thursday, giving her a 10-month suspended prison sentence.
Speaking after the verdict, princess Hassa bint Salman’s French lawyer, Emmanuel Moyne, said most of the declarations made by workman Ashraf Eid were false and that an appeal would be lodged. Speaking after the verdict, Emmanuel Moyne, the French lawyer for Hassa bint Salman, said most of the declarations made by workman, Ashraf Eid, were false and that an appeal would be lodged.
According to the initial indictment, Eid told police that the princess’s bodyguard had bound his hands, punched, kicked him and forced him to kiss her feet after she had accused him of filming her on his cell phone. According to the initial indictment, Eid told police that the princess’s bodyguard, Rani Saidi, had bound his hands, punched, kicked him and forced him to kiss her feet after she accused him of filming her on his cell phone.
Eid told investigators his phone was forcibly taken from him and that as he was being beaten, princess Hassa had treated him like a dog, telling him “you’ll see how you speak to a princess, how you speak to the royal family”. Eid told investigators his phone was forcibly taken from him and that as he was being beaten, Hassa treated him like a dog, telling him “you’ll see how you speak to a princess, how you speak to the royal family”.
Moyne disputed the court’s conclusions. “There is nothing in the case to establish that even the slightest crime was committed. This sentence is backed by no concrete proof but rests solely on the unfounded, even mendacious, allegations made by the plaintiff who didn’t even turn up himself to the trial to support them,” he said.Moyne disputed the court’s conclusions. “There is nothing in the case to establish that even the slightest crime was committed. This sentence is backed by no concrete proof but rests solely on the unfounded, even mendacious, allegations made by the plaintiff who didn’t even turn up himself to the trial to support them,” he said.
The 43-year-old princess and sister of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was not in court for the verdict but has consistently denied any wrongdoing through her lawyers. The 43-year-old princess, sister to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was not in court for the verdict but through her lawyers, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Lisa Janaszewicz, another member of the princess’s legal team, said her client was the real victim. “By filming her without her knowing, Mr Eid broke her right to privacy. And she has suffered two years of legal proceedings … as well as treatment by the media that has unfairly changed how she is seen.”Lisa Janaszewicz, another member of the princess’s legal team, said her client was the real victim. “By filming her without her knowing, Mr Eid broke her right to privacy. And she has suffered two years of legal proceedings … as well as treatment by the media that has unfairly changed how she is seen.”
It was not immediately clear whether the ruling would complicate relations between Paris and Riyadh.It was not immediately clear whether the ruling would complicate relations between Paris and Riyadh.
France has nurtured close ties with Saudi Arabia but those ties have been tested by president Emmanuel Macron’s determination to salvage Iran’s nuclear accord, which Saudi Arabia, alongside the US, has adamantly opposed. France has nurtured close ties with Saudi Arabia but those ties have been tested by Emmanuel Macron’s determination to salvage Iran’s nuclear accord, which Saudi Arabia, alongside the US, has adamantly opposed.
The Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Saudi royalty has faced legal problems in France before. In 2013, a French court ordered that the French assets of Saudi princess Maha al-Sudairi, wife of former interior minister prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, be seized over unpaid bills at a luxury hotel totalling almost €6m (£5.37m). Saudi royalty has faced legal problems in France before. In 2013 a French court ordered that the French assets of the Saudi princess Maha al-Sudairi, wife of the former interior minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, be seized over unpaid bills at a luxury hotel totalling almost €6m (£5.37m).
Reuters contributed to this reportReuters contributed to this report
FranceFrance
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
EuropeEurope
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
ParisParis
Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Macron
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