Qatar Prince Who Claimed Immunity In High-Speed Chase Flees The Country

We have been discussing the controversy over a man from Qatar who went on a dangerous high-speed chase in a yellow Ferrari and then both threatened a reporter and claimed diplomatic immunity. He informed the reporter that he could kill him with utter immunity from prosecution and topped off that threat by saying “F*** America.” It is now confirmed that this disgraceful thug is a member of Qatar’s ruling family: Sheik Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar’s ruling family. Al-Thani claimed immunity but does not actually have it. However, by some incredible sequence of events, Al-Thani was allowed to flee the country to avoid any accountability.

Al-Thani had been staying at the Beverly Wilshire hotel and started the race between his Ferrari LaFerrari and a Porsche 911 GT3 in Beverly Hills.

After discussing the matter with the U.S. State Department and the Qatar consulate, authorities concluded he did not have immunity. However, as Qatar engaged with the State Department, someone alerted Al-Thani and got him out of the country. He proved to be correct. He is immune. He can endanger average citizens and even kill one. Not because he has diplomatic immunity but because he is a Qatari prince who can simply take a flight out of the country.

Now here is the curious question. How can the Administration be engaged with a foreign government over the possible arrest of a Qatari but not place a hold or secure an agreement to avoid his leaving the country. While there was a paucity of evidence on identifying the driver, Al-Thani could have been brought into the police station for questioning, particularly since the reporter alleged assault. We presumably still track people leaving the country. Yet, it seems that (while discussing the problem) the problem was allowed to solve itself by hopping a plane.

Source: LA Times