Nephew of Saudi King Faces Drug Charge in London
A nephew of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd was arrested a week ago on a cocaine charge. He does not have diplomatic immunity but an association of British lawyers said Thursday that the prince could be immune from prosecution as a member of a Royal Family.
Prince Manshour ibn Saud Abdulaziz, 31, was arrested after police raided his apartment in London’s Knightsbridge district July 11, Scotland Yard said.
The prince, the 24th of 25 sons of the late King Saud, was arraigned Monday on a charge of conspiring to supply cocaine and was ordered held at Brixton prison in south London.
He will make a second court appearance today, said the statement, which gave no other details about Monday’s appearance. No trial date has been announced.
The British Foreign Office said Saudi officials have contacted British authorities about the arrest of the prince, who does not have diplomatic immunity.
The Law Society--the association of British lawyers--said it is up to the British courts to decide whether the prince is entitled to sovereign immunity, which often applies to those closely related to a Royal Family. Saudi officials would need to make such a request in court.
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