‘We will not cease to get justice’: Detectives hunting for billionaire tycoon’s fugitive son who is wanted over 2008 murder of Norwegian socialite urge him to return to UK
- Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen’s body was found buried in rubble
- She had been at a Mayfair club but was last seen with Farouk Abdulhak in 2008
- The prime suspect fled to Yemen before her remains were discovered by police
- Farouk, the son of billionaire Shaher Adbulhak, is still on the run 13 years later
Detectives tracking a man who fled the country after the murder of a Norwegian student in London have warned him that their search will not ‘go away.’
Martine Vik Magnussen was just 23 when her body was found partially covered by rubble in a basement of a property in Great Portland Street in March 2008.
She was last seen with Farouk Abdulhak – son of billionaire sugar magnate Shaher Abdulhak – as the pair left the Maddox nightclub in Mayfair in the early hours on Friday, March 14.
But Mr Abdulhak fled to Yemen via Egypt within hours of her death and was identified by detectives as a key suspect in their investigation.
Detective Inspector James Howart, who leads the investigation into Ms Magnussen’s murder, said: ‘I would like to make it clear to Farouk Abdulhak that this matter is not going to go away.
‘My team and I will continue to seek justice and use all opportunities available to pursue him and bring him back to the UK.
Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen was celebrating the end of exams with friends at the exclusive Mayfair nightclub Maddox in March 2008
CCTV footage dated 14/3/2008 issued by Metropolitan Police of Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen and billionaire playboy Farouk Abdulhak leaving Maddox nightclub in Mayfair
‘His status as a wanted man will remain and I will not cease to in my efforts to get justice for Martine’s family.
Martine was last seen with Farouk Abdulhak (pictured) – son of billionaire sugar magnate Shaher Abdulhak – in the early hours of March 14
‘I’m appealing to Farouk Abdulhak directly. Come back to the UK. Come back to face justice.
‘Since Martine’s death, her family have shown true determination together with my investigation team as we want to provide some closure for the family.’
Mr Abdulhak and Ms Magnussen studied international business relations together at the private Regent’s Business School in the capital.
Ms Magnussen, a Norwegian socialite, had spent the evening celebrating the end of exams with friends on the night of Friday, March 14th.
A post-mortem examination gave her cause of death as compression to the neck, and it was confirmed that she had also been raped.
An inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court on November 24, 2010 recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.
Odd Petter Magnussen (left), with Norwegian rector Torbjorn Holt (middle) and head of Martin Foundation Patrick Lundevall-Unger in Great Portland Street, 2018, where Martine’s body was discovered
Farouk Abdulhak remains the only suspect in the death of Ms Vik Magnussen, and was described by the victim’s father, Odd Petter Magnussen, as a ‘coward’.
Speaking last year, Mr Magnussen warned the suspect that he ‘cannot hide forever’, according to Metro.
‘In today’s globalised world, you cannot hide forever from the oldest and most serious crime known to man – the rape and murder of a woman.
‘I appeal to you to return to the UK to assist the police in finding out what happened to Martine.
‘I regard you as a coward unless you take responsibility for your actions.’