Saudi king's daughter leaves France after arrest of bodyguard over beating

The daughter of the Saudi king has left Paris after her bodyguard was accused of beating a painter and decorator for taking photographs inside her apartment, according to reports.

Princess Hassa, 42, the daughter of King Salman, left France after her diplomatic bodyguard was arrested on Saturday for the alleged beating of the worker at the flat in Avenue Foch, near the Arc de Triomphe.

The bodyguard appeared before an instructing judge on Saturday after his arrest on Thursday, and may face criminal trial.

Le Point magazine reported the victim, who is unnamed, as saying the bodyguard was ordered by the princess to "kill" him.

The bodyguard said he used the "minimum force" to restrain the worker.

However, a source close to the investigation said the victim later retracted his claim.

The judicial police told the guard it was normal for painters and decorators to take pictures of their work on their smartphones.

The painter has requested that his tools be returned and that he be paid the €20,000 ($24,469) owed for work completed, according to Le Point.

The man displayed bruises from the alleged attack consistent with his version of events when he reported it to police.

His tools were reportedly returned to him after police entered the apartment last week.

Elie Hatem, the bodyguard’s barrister, denies his client attacked the worker. "There were more than 20 people in the apartments," he said.