Taking aim at Saudi officials for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The US Treasury Department is imposing sanctions on more than a dozen individuals. And as CGTN's Michal Bardavid reports, Riyadh says some of those same suspects could get the death penalty.

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL "Saudi Arabia's deputy public prosecutor Shaalan Al-Shaalan made the announcement on Thursday. Saudi prosecutors concluded that a struggle took place inside the consulate, and then Khashoggi was administered with a lethal injection that caused his death. And he said the government is seeking the death penalty for several suspects."

SHAALAN AL-SHAALAN SAUDI ARABIAN DEPUTY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR "The charges were directed at 11 (out of 21 suspects) and a criminal case was filed against them. The case has been referred to court as investigations are ongoing to find out the roles (in the murder) of the remaining detainees. The Public Prosecutor has requested the death penalty for five individuals who are charged with ordering and committing the crime and for the appropriate sentences for the other indicted individuals."

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL "At a separate press conference, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister insisted the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had nothing to do with the killing. And from Washington, came word that the US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis in connection with the murder, including Saud al-Qahtani, the former adviser to the crown prince and Mohammad al-Otaibi, the Saudi consul-general in Istanbul. Meanwhile Turkey's Foreign Minister has stated the Saudi statement was 'unsatisfactory' - and said all suspects in the case should be tried in Turkey. Michal Bardavid, CGTN, Istanbul."