| Shaher Abdulhak | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1938 Egypt[1] |
| Residence | Yemen |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Shaher Abdulhak (b. c. 1938[2]) is a Yemeni 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.[3]
In 1963 Abdulhak founded the company "Shaher Trading", an enterprise involved in petroleum, soft drinks, tourism and property.[4] He is today a billionaire, and considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the country.[5] Abdulhak is known as the "King of Sugar" in Yemen, where he holds great influence also politically.[6] He is a personal friend of president Ali Abdullah Saleh.[7] 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.[6] In December 2009, his picture was shown for the first time in public media when Norwegian newspaper VG printed a private photograph of him.[8] 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,[9] 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 [9] 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.[10][11]
In March 2008, Abdulhak became the unwilling object of media scrutiny, when his son went missing in connection with a London murder case.[12] Abdulhak's then 21-year-old son Farouk is wanted for questioning in the murder and rape of the 23-year-old Norwegian Martine Vik Magnussen, who was found dead in a pile of rubble in the basement of Farouk's house.[13] 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.[7] Yemeni officials have also promised to hand over the suspect if found.[14] 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.[15] Farouk fled UK just hours after the death of Martine, chartering his father's private jet.[16] 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 [17]