CENTENNIAL — A Saudi inmate serving time for sexually abusing his housekeeper was once accused of ordering a hit on a fellow inmate, according to testimony Thursday in a hearing seeking his early release from prison.

The inmate, Homaidan al-Turki, who has been considered a person of interest in the investigation of the slaying of former corrections chief Tom Clements, has won the support of the Saudi government and a legion of supporters on social media. The hashtag “Colorado_Free_Alturki” was among the most popular trending items on Twitter worldwide on Thursday.

Al-Turki is seeking his release so he can complete his prison sentence in Saudi Arabia.

Clements’ predecessor, Ari Zavaras, on Thursday made his first public appearance since Clements’ slaying to testify for the prosecution at al-Turki’s hearing. He said he once signed a letter written on behalf of al-Turki, but that he may not have done so had he known the Saudi had been accused of ordering the killing of a fellow inmate named “Martin.”

“I would have liked to have known about this,” said Zavaras, who was replaced by Clements in January 2011, referring to the accusation. “I would have had this further looked into.”

At the Thursday hearing, Al-Turki did not speak. He was dressed in a red jail uniform with short silver hair and a long, dark beard streaked with gray.

Al-Turki has denied any involvement in Clements’ March 19 slaying. But investigators have reviewed his prison and financial records in an effort to see whether he has ties to the 211 Crew, a prison gang that has been at the center of the investigation.

Investigators believe that parolee Evan Ebel, a member of the 211 Crew, shot and killed Clements and pizza delivery driver Nathan Leon, possibly on orders from gang leaders.

Clements was killed one week after rejecting another request by al-Turki to return to Saudi Arabia. Since the killing and the revelation of a hit list that Ebel had, several top state officials have been under increased protection.

Al-Turki has repeatedly complained about harassment by prison officials since Clements’ slaying. He recently was transferred to a federal prison in Tucson.

Zavaras was among several witnesses who testified at the Arapahoe District Court hearing, which was continued until Oct. 31.

Two sex offender treatment experts, one for al-Turki and the other for the prosecution, gave differing opinions about al-Turki’s treatment prospects, although both agreed he was a low risk to re-offend. One argued that because al-Turki denies he did anything wrong, he is a poor candidate for therapy. The defense expert said al-Turki would have a better chance of success in his own country with counselors familiar with his faith and culture.

Zavaras testified that al-Turki attorney Henry Solano asked him to write a letter on his client’s behalf in 2010. The letter was used to try to bolster al-Turki’s request to be released from prison in Colorado.

The letter spoke about how well al-Turki was doing in prison. Al-Turki’s sentence eventually was reduced by 20 years from the original 28 years to life in prison.

Zavaras said his staff wrote the letter, which he read and signed. But he added that had he known about the alleged order to kill a fellow inmate he would have at least included that detail in the letter.

Under cross-examination, Zavaras added, however, that he would have also liked to have known that the inmate accusing al-Turki of ordering the killing was mentally ill. The allegation did not lead to a former criminal investigation, according to his attorneys. The inmate allegedly targeted was not killed.

In another accusation that surfaced at Limon Correctional Facility in 2007, al-Turki, who was then a leader of Muslim inmates, threatened harm to another inmate after the man announced during the holy month of Ramadan that he was no longer a member of the faith.

According to al-Turki attorney Hal Haddon, none of the allegations against his client was founded.

Also on Thursday, Fahed Al-Rawaf of the Saudi embassy in Washington appeared on al-Turki’s behalf and urged the court to release al-Turki for treatment that is more culturally and religiously suited for a Muslin.

Asked by Judge J. Mark Hannen if al-Turki’s sentence was compatible with Colorado’s, al-Rawaf repeatedly said Saudi officials would honor any conditions of probation imposed by Colorado.

Al-Turki’s brother, Saudi physician Ahmad al-Turki, made an emotional appeal seeking his brother’s return.

“The whole family is really hurt by this,” Ahmad al-Turki said.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, denverpost.com/coldcases or twitter.com/kmitchelldp

The Associated Press contributed to this report.