Latest news with #Abdulhak
The Independent
17-03-2025
- The Independent
Police issue message to billionaire's murder-accused son: ‘Time to grow up'
The Metropolitan Police has issued a direct message to the son of a billionaire suspected of murdering a Norwegian student 17 years ago. On March 14, 2008, Martine Vik Magnussen, 23, was raped and murdered after a night out with friends to celebrate her end-of-term exams at the Maddox nightclub, Mayfair, central London. Her body was found in the basement of a property on Great Portland Street, two days later, and a post-mortem examination found she had died from compression to her neck. Farouk Abdulhak was identified as the main suspect but hours after her death he fled the country to Yemen. Almost two decades on, police have appealed for Abdulhak to return to face charges. Detective Inspector Jim Barry, leading the investigation from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite Abdulhak's refusal to come to the UK, we are as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine. 'My message is directly to Farouk Abdulhak. 'You have been running and hiding for 17 years. You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family. 'Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop.' Ms Magnussen's father Peter said in a statement published by the force last Friday: 'For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen.' 'On March 8, International Women's Day, I was once again painfully reminded that my daughter, Martine Vik Magnussen was brutally raped and murdered in London in 2008. 'Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. 'Martine's voice was silenced but we must not be silent for her.' Abdulhak was friends with Ms Magnussen and had been at the nightclub on March 14. In 2023 he claimed the incident was a 'sex accident gone wrong'. In a text message to Nawal Al-Maghafi, BBC News Arabic special correspondent, Abdulhak said he 'could barely piece together what happened'. When the journalist asked him why, he replied: 'Cocaine.' Abdulhak told Ms Al-Maghafi 'trust me I'm legally (expletive)' and that this was due to 'leaving the country and the body was moved'. She asked him if he had thought about handing himself in, and he said lawyers had advised him not to as he would now 'serve the harshest sentence'. Abdulhak told her it was 'too late'. During an initial phone call conversation with Ms Al-Maghafi, Abdulhak said he does not know what answers Ms Magnussen's family want to hear. When asked about the possibility of coming back, Abdulhak responded: 'It's too cold there. I don't like the weather.' His father was the late billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, who was known as the king of sugar because the source of part of his fortune was the soft drinks industry. An anonymous family member told a Discovery+ documentary aired in 2022 that Abdulhak is leading an isolated life in Yemen. They said: 'Farouk's entire life is staying at home. There is no socialising. There is no going to public places. 'Nobody comes there. He doesn't really have any friends.' Ms Magnussen was studying at Regent's Business School and had just come top of her class when she died. A group of students were on the night out but Ms Magnussen vanished, and her body was found in the basement area of flats where Abdulhak lived.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Plea for man suspected of student's murder to return to UK
A new plea to the son of a billionaire suspected of raping and murdering a Norwegian student in London 17 years ago to return to the UK has been issued by the Metropolitan Police. The body of 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen was discovered in a Great Portland Street basement in 2008. The main suspect, Farouk Abdulhak - who fled to Yemen hours after her death - told the BBC in 2023 she died as a result of a "sex accident gone wrong". In Friday's statement, Ms Magnussen's father and the lead detective on the case issued a fresh appeal for Mr Abdulhak to return from Yemen, which has no extradition treaty with the UK. A post-mortem examination found Ms Magnussen had died from compression to her neck, and that her body had multiple cuts and grazes. Polices said enquires also indicated she had been raped around the time of her death. Her father, Odd Petter Magnussen, said: "For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen. "Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. "Martine's voice was silenced, but we must not be silent for her." Ms Magnussen and Mr Abdulhak both studied at Regent's Business School in London, and in the early hours of 14 March, 2008, were together at the exclusive Maddox nightclub in Mayfair celebrating the end of their exams. CCTV showed Martine leaving the club with Mr Abdulhak at 02:59. Friends of hers said Mr Abdulhak offered to host an after-party at his apartment in Great Portland Street, central London. Police found her body in the basement of the apartment block two days later, but the main suspect, Mr Abdulhak, had already fled the UK. He took a commercial flight to Cairo, and then travelled to Yemen. Mr Abdulhak's father, Shaher Abdulhak, was one of the richest and most powerful men in Yemen before his death in 2020. He had a business empire built on sugar, soft drinks, oil and arms, and was a close friend of the president at the time, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Speaking to the BBC in 2023, Mr Abdulhak said: "I did something when I was younger, it was a mistake." Communicating via text message, he said: "It was just an accident. Nothing nefarious. "Just a sex accident gone wrong." He added: "No-one knows because I could barely piece together what happened." Asked why, he replied with one word: "Cocaine." He described himself as "legally [expletive]" because of "leaving the country and the body was moved". He also told the BBC: "1: I deeply regret the unfortunate accident that happened. 2 regret coming here [to Yemen] should have stayed and paid the piper." His lawyer has previously insisted he was innocent of murder. "I don't think justice will be served," Mr Abdulhak told BBC News correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi in 2023 over the phone when asked if he would return to the UK. "I find that the criminal justice system there [in the UK] is heavily biased. I find that they will want to make an example of me being a son of an Arab, being… a son of someone rich… it's way too late," Mr Abdulhak said. Detective Inspector Jim Barry, who is leading the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, said the force is "as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine". In a message directed at Mr Abdulhak, Det Insp Barry said: "You have been running and hiding for 17 years. "You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family. "Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop." Billionaire's son admits role in student's death
BBC News
14-03-2025
- BBC News
Plea for billionaire's son suspected of student's murder to return to UK
A new plea to the son of a billionaire suspected of raping and murdering a Norwegian student in London 17 years ago to return to the UK has been issued by the Metropolitan body of 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen was discovered in a Great Portland Street basement in main suspect, Farouk Abdulhak - who fled to Yemen hours after her death - told the BBC in 2023 she died as a result of a "sex accident gone wrong".In Friday's statement, Ms Magnussen's father and the lead detective on the case issued a fresh appeal for Mr Abdulhak to return from Yemen, which has no extradition treaty with the UK. A post-mortem examination found Ms Magnussen had died from compression to her neck, and that her body had multiple cuts and said enquires also indicated she had been raped around the time of her father, Odd Petter Magnussen, said: "For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen."Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied."Martine's voice was silenced, but we must not be silent for her."Ms Magnussen and Mr Abdulhak both studied at Regent's Business School in London, and in the early hours of 14 March, 2008, were together at the exclusive Maddox nightclub in Mayfair celebrating the end of their exams. CCTV showed Martine leaving the club with Mr Abdulhak at 02:59. Friends of hers said Mr Abdulhak offered to host an after-party at his apartment in Great Portland Street, central London. Police found her body in the basement of the apartment block two days later, but the main suspect, Mr Abdulhak, had already fled the UK. He took a commercial flight to Cairo, and then travelled to Yemen. Mr Abdulhak's father, Shaher Abdulhak, was one of the richest and most powerful men in Yemen before his death in 2020. He had a business empire built on sugar, soft drinks, oil and arms, and was a close friend of the president at the time, Ali Abdullah to the BBC in 2023, Mr Abdulhak said: "I did something when I was younger, it was a mistake."Communicating via text message, he said: "It was just an accident. Nothing nefarious."Just a sex accident gone wrong."He added: "No-one knows because I could barely piece together what happened."Asked why, he replied with one word: "Cocaine."He described himself as "legally [expletive]" because of "leaving the country and the body was moved".He also told the BBC: "1: I deeply regret the unfortunate accident that happened. 2 regret coming here [to Yemen] should have stayed and paid the piper."His lawyer has previously insisted he was innocent of murder."I don't think justice will be served," Mr Abdulhak told BBC News correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi in 2023 over the phone when asked if he would return to the UK. "I find that the criminal justice system there [in the UK] is heavily biased. I find that they will want to make an example of me being a son of an Arab, being… a son of someone rich… it's way too late," Mr Abdulhak Inspector Jim Barry, who is leading the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, said the force is "as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine". In a message directed at Mr Abdulhak, Det Insp Barry said: "You have been running and hiding for 17 years. "You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family."Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop."
The Independent
14-03-2025
- The Independent
Plea for billionaire's son suspected of murdering woman in 2008 to return to UK
The son of a billionaire suspected of murdering a Norwegian student 17 years ago has been asked to return to the UK as police issued a new photograph of him. Martine Vik Magnussen, 23, was raped and murdered after a night out with friends to celebrate her end-of-term exams at the Maddox nightclub, Mayfair, central London, on March 14 2008. Farouk Abdulhak was identified as the main suspect but hours after her death he fled the country to Yemen via Egypt. The Metropolitan Police have appealed for Abdulhak to return to face charges and issued a more recent image of him. Ms Magnussen's father said in a statement published by the force on Friday: 'For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen.' Odd Petter Magnussen added: 'On March 8, International Women's Day, I was once again painfully reminded that my daughter, Martine Vik Magnussen was brutally raped and murdered in London in 2008. 'Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. 'Martine's voice was silenced but we must not be silent for her.' Her body was found in the basement of a property on Great Portland Street, central London, on March 16 2008 and a post-mortem examination found she had died from compression to her neck. Abdulhak was friends with Ms Magnussen and had been at the nightclub on March 14. In 2023 he claimed the incident was a 'sex accident gone wrong'. In a text message to Nawal Al-Maghafi, BBC News Arabic special correspondent, Abdulhak said he 'could barely piece together what happened'. When the journalist asked him why, he replied: 'Cocaine.' Abdulhak told Ms Al-Maghafi 'trust me I'm legally (expletive)' and that this was due to 'leaving the country and the body was moved'. She asked him if he had thought about handing himself in, and he said lawyers had advised him not to as he would now 'serve the harshest sentence'. Abdulhak told her it was 'too late'. His father was the late billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, who was known as the king of sugar because the source of part of his fortune was the soft drinks industry. An anonymous family member told a Discovery+ documentary aired in 2022 that Abdulhak is leading an isolated life in Yemen. They said: 'Farouk's entire life is staying at home. There is no socialising. There is no going to public places. 'Nobody comes there. He doesn't really have any friends.' Ms Magnussen was studying at Regent's Business School and had just come top of her class when she died. A group of students were on the night out but Ms Magnussen vanished, and her body was found in the basement area of flats where Abdulhak lived. On Friday, Detective Inspector Jim Barry, leading the investigation from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite Abdulhak's refusal to come to the UK, we are as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine. 'We're releasing a more up-to-date image of Farouk Abdulhak and hope that someone can encourage him to do the right thing and hand himself in to UK police. 'My message is directly to Farouk Abdulhak. 'You have been running and hiding for 17 years. You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family. 'Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Plea for billionaire's son suspected of murdering woman in 2008 to return to UK
The son of a billionaire suspected of murdering a Norwegian student 17 years ago has been asked to return to the UK as police issued a new photograph of him. Martine Vik Magnussen, 23, was raped and murdered after a night out with friends to celebrate her end-of-term exams at the Maddox nightclub, Mayfair, central London, on March 14 2008. Farouk Abdulhak was identified as the main suspect but hours after her death he fled the country to Yemen via Egypt. The Metropolitan Police have appealed for Abdulhak to return to face charges and issued a more recent image of him. Ms Magnussen's father said in a statement published by the force on Friday: 'For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen.' Odd Petter Magnussen added: 'On March 8, International Women's Day, I was once again painfully reminded that my daughter, Martine Vik Magnussen was brutally raped and murdered in London in 2008. 'Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine's case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. 'Martine's voice was silenced but we must not be silent for her.' Her body was found in the basement of a property on Great Portland Street, central London, on March 16 2008 and a post-mortem examination found she had died from compression to her neck. Abdulhak was friends with Ms Magnussen and had been at the nightclub on March 14. In 2023 he claimed the incident was a 'sex accident gone wrong'. In a text message to Nawal Al-Maghafi, BBC News Arabic special correspondent, Abdulhak said he 'could barely piece together what happened'. When the journalist asked him why, he replied: 'Cocaine.' Abdulhak told Ms Al-Maghafi 'trust me I'm legally (expletive)' and that this was due to 'leaving the country and the body was moved'. She asked him if he had thought about handing himself in, and he said lawyers had advised him not to as he would now 'serve the harshest sentence'. Abdulhak told her it was 'too late'. His father was the late billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, who was known as the king of sugar because the source of part of his fortune was the soft drinks industry. An anonymous family member told a Discovery+ documentary aired in 2022 that Abdulhak is leading an isolated life in Yemen. They said: 'Farouk's entire life is staying at home. There is no socialising. There is no going to public places. 'Nobody comes there. He doesn't really have any friends.' Ms Magnussen was studying at Regent's Business School and had just come top of her class when she died. A group of students were on the night out but Ms Magnussen vanished, and her body was found in the basement area of flats where Abdulhak lived. On Friday, Detective Inspector Jim Barry, leading the investigation from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite Abdulhak's refusal to come to the UK, we are as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine. 'We're releasing a more up-to-date image of Farouk Abdulhak and hope that someone can encourage him to do the right thing and hand himself in to UK police. 'My message is directly to Farouk Abdulhak. 'You have been running and hiding for 17 years. You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family. 'Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop.'
