China says it has noted Saudi Arabia's ruling on the caseof journalist Jamal Khashoggi and supports the Kingdom's handling of thecase, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Wednesday.
He also said that "this case can be properly handled underthe Saudi judicial framework," and is a matter of Saudi internal affairs that"should not be politicized and internationalized," in a statement postedon China's Embassy to the Kingdom's Twitter account.
Five people were sentenced to death and three more were givenjail terms on Monday by Riyadh's criminal court over the murder of Khashoggilast year.
Khashoggi was killed when he visited the Saudi Consulate inOctober in Istanbul.
The three defendants given prison terms totalling 24 yearswere found guilty "for their role in covering up this crime and violating thelaw."
No names were released for those who were convicted, as theycould still appeal the ruling.
Saudi deputy public prosecutor and spokesperson, ShalaanAl-Shalaan, said the investigations proved there was no "prior enmity" betweenthose convicted and Khashoggi.
"The investigation showed that the killing was notpremeditated … The decision was taken at the spur of the moment," he said.
He said that when the team saw that it would be impossible totransfer Khashoggi to a safe place to continue negotiating, they decided tokill him.
