Saudi national denied parole from Colorado prison

A Saudi national serving up to life in prison in Colorado on a sexual assault conviction has been denied parole.

A state parole official rejected Homaidan al-Turki’s request at a hearing Tuesday. The parole official says al-Turki needs to participate in sex offender treatment before he can be released.

He has refused to take part in the treatment.

Al-Turki is serving a sentence of eight years to life. He was convicted in 2006 of assaulting a housekeeper and keeping her as a virtual slave.

State officials say the hearing is unrelated to al-Turki’s earlier request to be sent to Saudi Arabia to serve the remainder of his sentence, which was denied by the state Department of Corrections.

Prosecutors opposed the request, fearing he would be released in Saudi Arabia.