The son of a late Yemeni billionaire, Farouk Abdulhak, has admitted to being involved in the 2008 death of 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen, a student in London. Abdulhak called the tragic incident a "sex accident gone wrong" in a series of text messages with BBC correspondent Nawal Al-Maghafi.
Abdulhak, who has been on the Metropolitan Police's most wanted list since 2008, fled London shortly after the incident. He has been living in isolation in Yemen for the past 15 years. During his exchange with Al-Maghafi, he said, "I did something when I was younger; it was a mistake." He acknowledged that he should have remained in London and "paid the piper."
Vik Magnussen, a Norwegian student at Regent's Business School, was last seen leaving the Maddox nightclub in Mayfair with Abdulhak after a group celebration. CCTV footage captured the pair heading towards Abdulhak's Great Portland Street apartment at 2:59 a.m. Vik Magnussen's partially nude body was later found in the basement of Abdulhak's building, having been raped and showing signs of strangulation or smothering.
Abdulhak quickly became a suspect, but by then, he had already fled to Cairo before traveling to Yemen on his father's private jet. He told Al-Maghafi that there was "nothing nefarious" about Vik Magnussen's death and attributed it to a "sex accident gone wrong." Abdulhak admitted to moving Vik Magnussen's body but could not recall why.
Abdulhak's drug use during the night of the incident was confirmed by some close to his influential family. An anonymous family friend said Abdulhak came to their London home early on March 14 seeking cash for a flight to Cairo, claiming his credit cards were not working. The friend recalled Abdulhak appearing as if "he was on something."
Jordanian businessman Abdulhay Al Mejali, another family friend, revealed to Al-Maghafi that Abdulhak wanted to face trial in London but was advised against it by his father. Due to the lack of an extradition treaty between the UK and Yemen, it is unlikely that Abdulhak will be forced to return and face justice.
Abdulhak expressed doubt about turning himself in, stating, "I don't think justice will be served," and citing bias in the UK's criminal justice system. Meanwhile, Vik Magnussen's family and the Metropolitan Police remain hopeful for a resolution. Odd Petter Magnussen, Martine's father, urged Abdulhak to "go back to the UK" and "tell what happened" on that fateful night.