Shaher Abdulhak
Encyclopedia
Shaher Abdulhak is a Yemen
i businessman. He is one of the wealthiest men in the country, and is well connected also politically. Since March 2008, Abdulhak's son Farouk is wanted for the murder of fellow student Martine Vik Magnussen
in London
. After pressure from Norwegian politicians, Martines Support group, Facebook campaigns and media reports of Abdulhak working against his son's rendition, Daimler AG, Coca Cola Company, Philips and Whirlpool has said it will end its business with the Abdulhak family.
. In spite of his prominent position in Yemeni society, Abdulhak is media-shy; he never grants interviews and no photo of him has ever been printed in the local press. In December 2009, his picture was shown for the first time in public media when Norwegian newspaper VG
printed a private photograph of him. In December 2010, Norwegian newspaper VG
reported that a group of elected representatives in the Norwegian Parliament has written to Shaher Abdulhak's business connections, including Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz-manufacturer Daimler AG, Whirlpool, Philips, Xerox and Clorox, requesting they review their commercial relationships. On 16 December 2010, VG
confirmed that Daimler AG had served notice to terminate its distribution contract with United Engineering & Automobile Co. Ltd. On 15 February 2011 a letter to the elected representatives from Abdulhak was published by Norwegian media, allegedly threatening the representatives with legal action.
Martine Vik Magnussen, who was found dead in a pile of rubble in the basement of Farouk's house. Shaher Abdulhak – who was allegedly already displeased with his son's jet-set lifestyle in London, and had threatened to cut him off – claimed to have no knowledge of Farouk's whereabouts, but had hired a detective to find him, and would disown him if he was found to have anything to do with the murder. Yemeni officials have also promised to hand over the suspect if found. Yemen, however, has no extradition treaty with the United Kingdom
, and extradition is against the country's constitution. Farouk is currently on Scotland Yard's wanted list as prime suspect in Martine Vik Magnussen's murder. Farouk fled UK just hours after the death of Martine, chartering his father's private jet.
The family lawyer, Mohammad Mahdi Baqwli, says to Norwegian TV2 on hidden camera, that Farouk lives at home with his family and studies Arabic at the University
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
i businessman. He is one of the wealthiest men in the country, and is well connected also politically. Since March 2008, Abdulhak's son Farouk is wanted for the murder of fellow student Martine Vik Magnussen
Murder of Martine Vik Magnussen
The Martine Vik Magnussen case involves the rape and murder of a 23-year-old Norwegian female business student, Martine Vik Magnussen. She was found in the basement of an apartment block, hidden under rubble, in a block of flats in Great Portland Street, London on 16 March 2008...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After pressure from Norwegian politicians, Martines Support group, Facebook campaigns and media reports of Abdulhak working against his son's rendition, Daimler AG, Coca Cola Company, Philips and Whirlpool has said it will end its business with the Abdulhak family.
Career
In 1963 Abdulhak founded the company "Shaher Trading", an enterprise involved in petroleum, soft drinks, tourism and property. He is today a billionaire, and considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the country. Abdulhak is known as the "King of Sugar" in Yemen, where he holds great influence also politically. He is a personal friend of president Ali Abdullah SalehAli Abdullah Saleh
Field Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh is the first President of the Republic of Yemen. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1978 until 1990, at which time he assumed the office of chairman of the Presidential Council of a post-unification Yemen. He is the...
. In spite of his prominent position in Yemeni society, Abdulhak is media-shy; he never grants interviews and no photo of him has ever been printed in the local press. In December 2009, his picture was shown for the first time in public media when Norwegian newspaper VG
VG
VG may refer to:* Vicar General, the principal deputy of a Christian bishop* Victoria Gardens , an open-air retail center in Rancho Cucamonga, California.* Nissan VG engine* VG Airlines * VG Cats, a webcomic...
printed a private photograph of him. In December 2010, Norwegian newspaper VG
VG
VG may refer to:* Vicar General, the principal deputy of a Christian bishop* Victoria Gardens , an open-air retail center in Rancho Cucamonga, California.* Nissan VG engine* VG Airlines * VG Cats, a webcomic...
reported that a group of elected representatives in the Norwegian Parliament has written to Shaher Abdulhak's business connections, including Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz-manufacturer Daimler AG, Whirlpool, Philips, Xerox and Clorox, requesting they review their commercial relationships. On 16 December 2010, VG
VG
VG may refer to:* Vicar General, the principal deputy of a Christian bishop* Victoria Gardens , an open-air retail center in Rancho Cucamonga, California.* Nissan VG engine* VG Airlines * VG Cats, a webcomic...
confirmed that Daimler AG had served notice to terminate its distribution contract with United Engineering & Automobile Co. Ltd. On 15 February 2011 a letter to the elected representatives from Abdulhak was published by Norwegian media, allegedly threatening the representatives with legal action.
Personal life
In March 2008, Abdulhak became the unwilling object of media scrutiny, when his son went missing in connection with a London murder case. Abdulhak's then 21-year-old son Farouk is wanted for questioning in the murder and rape of the 23-year-old NorwegianNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Martine Vik Magnussen, who was found dead in a pile of rubble in the basement of Farouk's house. Shaher Abdulhak – who was allegedly already displeased with his son's jet-set lifestyle in London, and had threatened to cut him off – claimed to have no knowledge of Farouk's whereabouts, but had hired a detective to find him, and would disown him if he was found to have anything to do with the murder. Yemeni officials have also promised to hand over the suspect if found. Yemen, however, has no extradition treaty with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and extradition is against the country's constitution. Farouk is currently on Scotland Yard's wanted list as prime suspect in Martine Vik Magnussen's murder. Farouk fled UK just hours after the death of Martine, chartering his father's private jet.
The family lawyer, Mohammad Mahdi Baqwli, says to Norwegian TV2 on hidden camera, that Farouk lives at home with his family and studies Arabic at the University