According to anonymous sources that spoke to Fox31, officials will look into the possibility that the recent denial to transfer Saudi national Homaidan al-Turki, who is serving out a prison sentence in Colorado, to Saudi Arabia is somehow linked to the shooting death of 58-year-old Colorado Department of Corrections chief Tom Clements, Tuesday night.
Al-Turki is currently serving time in Colorado's Limon Correctional Facility for a 2006 conviction that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a housekeeper whom he kept as a virtual slave in his home, prosecutors said during the trial. Al-Turki has said that his arrest and the case were politically motivated and has maintained his innocence since his trial.
Al-Turki's company sold "The Lives of the Prophets" CDs, a set of Islamic sermons recorded by U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki who was killed along with his 16-year-old son Abdulrahman al-Awlaki during a 2011 drone strike in Yemen.
Just last week Colorado prison officials denied a request from the Saudi Arabian government to release al-Turki and transfer him to Saudi Arabia to serve out the remainder of his sentence, CBS4 reported. Clements himself wrote a letter to al-Turki and made the decision to deny the transfer request because al-Turki had not undergone sex offender treatment, which Colorado law requires of convicted sex offenders.
Clements' letter reads:
Due to the nature of your crime and according to C.R.S. 18-1.3-1004 (3), each sex offender receiving an indeterminate sentence, shall be required as part of the sentence to undergo treatment to the extend appropriate pursuant to C.R.S. 15-11.7-105. Information provided indicates that you have been given multiple opportunities to be screened by the Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program. To date you have declined those opportunities to be assessed for potential placement in treatment. You have reportedly declined based upon religious reasons/conflicts with your Islamic faith. I have reviewed information provided from our Chief of Behavioral Health which indicates that the treatment providers work with offenders to identify cultural/religious values and beliefs that support their change efforts, and work with religious leaders for advice in resolving identified concerns.
After a thorough review and careful consideration of all information provided to me in this matter, I have decided not to support your request for transfer to Saudi Arabia at this time.
I would encourage you to reconsider your position regarding participation in required treatment. Should you change your mind, you should contact your case manager about initiating the process to be screened for the treatment program. Your successful participation in the Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program would reflect positive progression and, although there can be no guarantees of future determinations, could result in your eventual parole or transfer to a Saudi Arabian prison.
More from the AP:
While Clements generally kept a low profile, his killing comes a week after he denied a request by a Saudi national, Homaidan al-Turki, to serve out the remainder of a Colorado prison sentence in Saudi Arabia. He cited al-Turki's refusal to undergo sex offender treatment in his denial.
Al-Turki, a well-known member of Denver's Muslim community, was convicted in state court in 2006 of unlawful sexual contact by use of force, theft and extortion and sentenced to 28 years to life in prison. Prosecutors said al-Turki kept a housekeeper a virtual slave for four years in his home and sexually assaulted her. A judge reduced the sentence to eight years to life. Al-Turki insisted the case was politically motivated. He owned a company that some years ago sold CDs of sermons recorded by Anwar al-Awlaki, killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011.
Al-Turki's conviction angered Saudi officials and prompted the U.S. State Department to send Colorado Attorney General John Suthers to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and al-Turki's family.
After Clements' shooting, someone with the State Department called the Colorado Corrections Department.
However, at this time, investigators do not have a motive nor a suspect. They have announced that they do believe Clements was targeted and do not think that residents in Clements' neighborhood are in any danger.
Gov. John Hickenlooper has ordered flags at all public buildings to fly at half-staff in memory of Clements and will remain at half-staff until the day after his funeral.
9News reports that due to the shooting at Clements' home, security at the Governor's Mansion has been increased.
Hickenlooper wrote a letter to the Department of Corrections, expressing heartfelt anguish for the death of Clements, read the full letter at The Denver Post:
Last night, Tom Clements was killed at his home in Monument. I can hardly believe it, let alone write words to describe it.
As your Executive Director, he helped change and improve DOC in two years more than most people could do in eight years. He was unfailingly kind and thoughtful, and sought the "good" in any situation. As you all know, in corrections that is not easy.
A manhunt is currently underway for anyone involved in the shooting. Clements was shot in the chest around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night when he answered the door to his home. A vehicle, described as black or dark in color with green dashboard lights, was seen idling near Clements home about 15 minutes before the shooting took place, 7News reports.
Clements is survived by his wife, Lisa, and two daughters, Rachel and Sara. The Clements family is requesting privacy at this time.
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