Friend of the student wanted by the police, tells his version:
- Ran away because he was scared
Montreux (VG) Farouk Abdulhak (21) ran away with the first flight/plane to Yemen, the morning after Martine Vik Magnussen (23),
was killed. - He was afraid, and wanted to be with his family again, his close friend Farouk Tatanakis says in this exclusive
interview with VG (Norwegian Paper VG/Verdens Gang).
(Text under the picture: Farouk Tatanakis is a close friend and childhood mate/friend of the person wanted by
the police, Farouk Abdulhak. Tatanakis was named after Farouks uncle, when he was born).
Farouk Tatanakis (23), have been in regular contact with his mates father, mother and siblings, since the case was known.
As late as this week, he was in contact with his friends older brother, who adviced him against talking with the media.
Now, he has decided to speak with the media anyway.
Sad and tragical
In this interview Farouk Abdulhaks friend, speaks out about his friends relationship, with the killed Martine Vik Magnussen, his stright big-brother, and about why Abdulhak ran to Yemen when his female friend disappeared.
VG first got contact with the friend via the internet, through the Facebook-group, which is set up, to find the truth, about the death,
of the Norwegian student.
- Farouk is not only a close friend - he is like a younger brother to me. I have known him, and his older brother, since I was born, and
our families are very close. That Martine was found killed, is both sad and tragical. This has very strongly affected
two families. One in Norway, and one in Yemen. I hope she'll rest in peace, and that the truth one day will be known, Farouk Tatanakis
says.
VG is meeting the 23 y.o. student at 'Glion Institute of Higher Education', in Montreus, in Switzerland, where he is studying on the first
year of the Hotel Management course/line. Leaned forward in a chair, in the schools cantina, he tells in detail, about Farouks past, his
family, and their close friendship bond.
He thinks it's terrible, that his close friend, is being nailed to/connected with the killing, by several British papers.
- I am 100 percent certain that he is inicent, Tatanakis says.
It has been more than three weeks since Martine Vik Magnussen was found partly undressed, and killed, in the garbage-room, underneath,
Farouk Abdulhaks London apartment. Since the case has been known, the billionare son, has been wanted, by the British police,
as a vitness. Still, he hasn't been heard from, since he deleted his Facebook-profile, and ran to his homeland Yemen.
- It's important to remember that he's only 21 y.o. Yes, he is responsible for his actions, but, suddently, he didn't understand, what it
was, that had been going on. Because of this, he ran home to his family, where he feels safe, and recieves love, Tatanakis says.
- Is he going to go back to London, to let himself be taken a vitness-statement from?
- Yes, I think he will. But, I don't know when. His father, Shaher, demands, that he has to do this. In a hypotetical/thought situation, he
wouldn't anyway have an oppertunity to hide. If he would be found guilty, his family, would demand, that he went to London, to serve his
sentence. If not, he would be executed in his homeland. This is Yemen jurisdiction/law, Tatanakis says.
Shaher Abdulhaks press-spokesman, David Wilson, is confirming, to VG, that the father, wants his son to go back to London, to let himself
be questioned by the Police.
Tatanakis reveals, that several friends of both him and Farouk, have been quesioned/been taken witness statements from, by the British
police, after the death of the Norwegian 23 y.o.
- They were very interested in the relationship, between Farouk and Martine, and what type of person he was privatly, he tells.
Close friends
He himself, met Martine out on town, on several occations, and tells that she was close to her now wanted friend.
- Me and a mate, met her acidentaly on a place called Chelsea Farmers, where she was with friends. Farouk and Martine, by the other hand, met
eachother, at Regents' College, where they both were studying business. Here they met through friends which they both knew. Both of them enjoyed
the London night-life, and the where always partying together - but not any more than other young people in the same age-group. Martine was always
very sweet and nice, the times I met her, Tatanakis says.
He says that the Abdulhak family, lived for many years in the USA. Something that led to that the wanted 21 y.o., became an American citizen.
In London, he was with his older brother, Khalid, who was looking after, that his younger brother, was behaving properly.
- He is very stright, and kept Farouk on a tight budget. - Even if their father is very wealthy. In London, he had a weekly allowance, on only £50
(about 500 NOK). If something special was upcoming, then this could be raised by another £50, Tatanakis says.
The last time he spoke with his friend, was the Wednesday before the killing. Since then, neighter him or any other friends in Egypt,
has heard anything from him.
(It says that there is more from the interview in the regular paper, that not all from the interview is in the online edition).
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