Virgin Group halts $1bn Saudi investment talks over disappearance of Khashoggi
British billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, is cutting ties with the Saudi government following the disappearance of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Branson has halted talks over $1bn Saudi investment in Virgin space firms and suspended directorships in two tourism projects on the Red Sea.
In a blog posted on Virgin Group's website Thursday, he announced that Virgin Galatic and Virgin Orbit would suspend its discussions with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
"What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi Government," Branson said in the post.
"We have asked for more information from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in relation to Mr. Khashoggi."
Khashoggi, a journalist known for his critical views of the kingdom's policies, went missing after entering the diplomatic mission on October 2.
Turkish officials, who believe the Washington Post contributor may have been murdered there, have obtained video and audio recordings that reportedly contain evidence supporting their claims.
The Post reported Thursday night that the recordings detail how Khashoggi was tortured, killed, and dismembered by a Saudi Arabian security team at the consulate.
It is unclear whether the US has been given direct access to the recordings, the Post reported, but US officials confirmed that the Trump administration was made aware of their contents.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US has investigators overseas to help Turkey with its investigation and that they were also working with Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, the United Nations voiced deep concern over the reports about Khashoggi, urging Turkey and Saudi Arabia to investigate the matter.
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