Saudi sheik extortion plot: 2 plead not guilty

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A woman and one of her attorneys pleaded not guilty to charges that they were trying to extort a Saudi sheik by accusing his son of rape.

Leyla Ors, 33, was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $35,000 bail while awaiting a hearing July 25 to determine if there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial.

Ors has been charged with one felony count each of offering to receive a bribe by a witness, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy of offering to receive a bribe and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The German national told police in March that she had been raped and tortured by Thamer Albalwi, the 23-year-old son of Sheikh Monsur Albalwi, who is one of the wealthiest men in Saudi Arabia. Based on a physical examination and visible injuries, Thamer Albalwi was charged with four counts of sexual assault on March 13.

But investigators learned that Ors' attorney, Emanuel Karl Hudson, called Thamer Albalwi's father in June and told him Ors would not testify and "the case would be over" if he paid $15 million. On the same day, Ors' second attorney, Joseph Gerard Cavallo, also spoke on the phone with the sheik, telling him the demand was now $20 million and that Hudson would set up an account in Switzerland to receive the funds.

"I prayed that the truth would come out and, thanks to the American justice system, it did," Thamer Albalwi said in a statement.

Cavallo pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy of offering to receive a bribe and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He is free on $50,000 bond while awaiting the July 25 hearing. Hudson is scheduled to be arraigned on July 30.

If convicted, they each face up to four years in prison.

City News Service contributed to this report.