Saudi princess who told guard to kill decorator 'identified as King Salman's daughter'

Princess has fled the French capital

Saudi Arabia's King Salman is seen during US President Barack Obama's visit to Erga Palace in Riyadh January 27, 2015.PHOTO: REUTERS

A Saudi Princess who allegedly asked her bodyguard to murder a French decorator and painter has reportedly been identified as the daughter of King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Princess Hassa, 42, has pleaded diplomatic immunity against prosecution and has fled the French capital where the incident took place. But her bodyguard, who has not been named, was arrested last week and following two nights in custody, appeared before an instructing judge on Saturday.

Saudi Princess orders bodyguard to kill French decorator 'for taking pictures'

He was put under formal criminal investigation for a range of charges including violence with a firearm, kidnapping, and assisted kidnapping. The bodyguard is likely to face a criminal trial, which could see him imprisoned if found guilty. According to Elie Hatem, the bodyguard’s barrister, “There were more than twenty people in the apartments.”

During questioning by the judge on Saturday, the bodyguard said he did the “minimum necessary” to “restrain” the workman after the princess caught him taking pictures. He was accused of wanting to sell the images of the inside of the flat in Avenue Foch, the prestigious road close to the Arc de Triomphe, to the media. The bodyguard confirmed that the princess was present during the incident, and that he was carrying an automatic pistol, as he was entitled to as a diplomatic guard.


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Princess Hassa is the only daughter of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. She did not appear in court and insists she was not guilty of any wrongdoing. The victim was signed off work for a week because of shock and severe bruising. The Saudi Arabian embassy in Paris has refused to comment on the case.

The unnamed multi-millionaire allegedly attacked the man in the French capital earlier this summer. He had arrived at the property in Avenue Foch — a prestigious road that runs off the Arc de Triomphe to carry out some basic decorating.

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The Frenchman had arrived at the property in Avenue Foch — a prestigious road that runs off the Arc de Triomphe to carry out some basic decorating. But when the Saudi princess saw the workman taking photographs on his smart phone camera, she accused him of wanting to sell them to the media. She then ordered her bodyguards to beat him, had him tied and then made the man kiss her feet.

This article originally appeared on Daily Mail.
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