Farooq Abulhak, center, person of interest in murder
of Norwegian socialite, Martine Vik Magnussen

Authorities in Yemen are playing the “extradition” game in not allowing British detectives to talk to a “person of interest”, Farooq Abdulhak, in the murder of Norwegian socialite, 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen.

Murder victim, 23-yr-old Martine Vik Magnussen of Norway

Sources say the Yemeni’s stance stems from the case of radical cleric-convicted terrorist Abu Hamza. Yemen had sought to extradite Hamza beginning in 1999 on charges he planned the 1998 kidnapping of 16 westerners in which four died when an attempt was made to free the hostages.

British authorities refused to turn Hamza over claiming he could receive the death penalty if prosecuted under Yemen law.

Items Ms. Magnussen wore that police say are missing from scene of crime

Ms. Magnussen went missing last Thursday evening after she was seen leaving the club, Maddox, in a taxi at 3 a.m. with Farooq Abdulhak, son of billionaire Yemen businessman and friend of President Abdullah Saleh,Shaher Abdulhak. Her body was found two days later under rubble in the same block as Farooq’s 600pd a week flat.

Maddox

According to the Daily Mail, Farooq caught a scheduled flight to Yemen on Saturday before Magnussen’s body was found. An autopsy revealed she was strangled and several articles of clothing and belongings were missing: skinny blue jeans, Guess watch, Christian Dior earrings, Marc Jacobs handbag, costume diamond ring and distinctive snakeskin shoes.

A friend of Magnussen’s has claimed that Farooq and Magnussen had a relationship, pictures from a birthday party shows them in the same photo.

Twenty-one year old Farooq was a business student. Arab friends claim Farooq was a well known party boy whose initials DP stood for Dom Perignon, an expensive French champagne, which he had a fondness for.

Farooq’s father has said if his son was found to be involved in the young woman’s death he would disown him but said nothing about allowing British authorities to question his son. Since Yemen and Britain do not have an extradition agreement Farooq remains untouchable to the British authorities, the same scenario when Yemen sought to have convicted terrorist, Abu Hamza, turned over to them in 1999 for prosecution in the 1998 kidnapping of westerners.

In the interim London police are asking anyone with information relating to Martine’s death to contact them.

By LBG

Image – Maddox Club
Source - The Daily Mail – First Picture: The Playboy in socialite murder case who will never face justice – thanks to Abu Hamza
Source – DBKP – Arab Billionaire’s Son

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