I found this forum after doing a search for lisa michelle lambert, and how been looking through your archives all day. I thought I share a case that is close to my heart, and in my opinion a case where justice have (yet!!) not prevailed.
In march 2008 norwegian student Martine (22) was out with friends and fellow students celebrating some good exam results at an exclusive night club named Madox in London. When the club closed she took said goodbye to her flatmates and left to go to an after party with fellow student Farouk Abdulhak. Farouk went to the same school as Martine (Regents Business College). Son of one of Yemen's most weatlhy men, Farouk lived a lavish jet-set life style and was know among his friends as DP, after Dom Perignon which was his drink of choice.
The following morning, Martine' flatmates notived that she had not returned home and could not get a hold of her. They called Farouk, but his phone was turned of. They tried to send Facebook message both to him, and to Martine as well as to all their other friends. They called the police, buyt since Martine had been missing for less then 24h there was nothing they could do. They went on facebook and started a group called "we can't find our friend" which quickly got over 20 000 members. They then noticed that Farouk had deleted his fb profile. They called the Police again, who found this to be so odd that despite the fact that Martine had not been missing for 24 hours went out to Farouk's appartment. There was no one there, but they made their way in to the flat and found obvious signs of struggle. They launched a search for both Martine and Farouk only to find Martine's semi nude body in the garbage room hidden behind some rubble.
Martines family arrived in London that same day to identify the body, and the search for Farouk - the person to be seen with Martine alive itensified. How ever as it would be known to days later, Farouk had made his way out of England long before Martine's friends even knew she was missing. He had boarded a plane to Egypt, where he had met up with his father, Shaher Abdulhak (known as the Sugar King in the Middle East), who was travelling on his priavte jet after a buisness stay in Norway (How's that for irony!!). And he flew with his father from Egypt to Yemen.
In April the Britsh police released Martine's body to her family for her to burried.London Police Detective Chied Inspector Jessica Wadsworth flies to Norway to attend the service.
In May 2008 it becomes know that Farouk had not only a Yemen passport and citizenship, but alos an American one. Rumour among Yemite reporters (who dare not right about the case in their own newspapers) is that Farouk is looking to move to the states. That he is miserable in Yemen, a very strict Muslim country, he hates living this life and misses his old party life style. There is a lot of back and forth, who has responsibility? The Scotland Yard declared that Farouk is there only suspect. His status on their website goes from person of interest to suspect of rape and murder. The Scotland Yard has compelling evidence, including DNA. In Dec 2009 over 1000 participate in a torchlight walk for Martine in Oslo, which is a lot for a small country. British police promises never to gove up the hunt for the man who is charged for this murder.
It is been almot three year since Martine was murdered, and yet this case sticks with me. It is so unfair that just be cause Farouk has money to cros the boarder he should escape the consequences of his actions! He lives in the lap of luxery, while martine's friends and family have to live withour her and with the knowledge of horrific her last horrific miutes were. "Identifying my beloved daughter in London the wounds on her face left no doubts that she had fought hard for her ethical standards. Justice is based on ethics, not legal gaps" - Odd Petter Magnussen, Martine's father.Many people still think about Martine still, much to to her family and friends efforts to keeping her name in the media and to put pressure on Yemen to extradite Farouk to England. It becomes known that Shaher Abdulhak had contacted Martine's father on three different occactions, offering money to make "this go away". Bloodmoney says Martine's friends. It also becomes know that Farouk lives at his father's hotel in Sanaa, his father paying for his livelyhood. He is also spotted outside of Yemen, in Tokyo, Dubaii and in Kairo. Various people offer to Martine's family to pay to have someone go in to Yemen and take him out. Killing him or transporting him to England and turning him in. Even mercenary soldier comapies offer to do this free of charge. Martine's family declines. Says they want this done the right way.
Nov 2010 there was a hearing in Westminister Coroner's Court where the details of the investigation was shared. Martine's parents sits and hear the policemen who found her body's testimony. Photos are shown. Martine's mother does not want to see them. The corner testifies that there were wounds all over her face and body. The coroner, dr. Kerry says it as about 10 on the face, 10 on the front of the body and 15 on the back. The cororner also testifes that there was trace amounts of cokain in her body as well as alchol. The cokain was, according to the corner consumed shortly before TOD while she most likely stopped drinking a while before. The body showed signs of rape. The cause of death was releaved to be strangulation by object, meaning something was pushed against her throat to cause it. The courts conclusion was thay she did not suffer a natural death.
In the end of 2010 8 Norwegian politicians wrote letters to major corporations who does work with Shaher Abdulhak, voicing their concern about this issue. There can be room for etihcs in buisness. This caused among other Meresedez Benz to stop all their collaboration with Shaher Abdulhak, as well as some other companies. Shaher is currently sueing these politician for damages. It is a paradox that he want them to stand trial for telling the truth and voicing their opionones (freedom of speech!!), but not his son for rape and murder. Shaher Abudlhak is the man resposible for Farouk being kept out of Enland's reach, as he has used his strong friendship with the Yemen president to keep him from negotationg this case with England. Shaher came from poverty, and build up an empire. Importing louxery cars and soft drinks to this part of the Middle East. He remained annomous until this case ble up, for 50 years no media published his photo. But here he is, and althought anyone can sympatize that he loves his son, that doesn't change the fact that he his harbouring a rapist murderer. Read: failing moral backbone test.
As you can see, the case is still ongoing, closing in on the 3 year anniversary of Martine's death I'm glad that Abdulhak was shook enough by the politicians letter to repsond in such a ferose way. That means things are getting to him. Maybe the current situation in this region will cause a regime change, who will extradite Farouk. The poopsition in Yemen has voiced disgust by this case. It remains to be seen.
It is a problem for the internation community when you can do something so horrible as this and get away with it. When you take up residence in another country you automatically accepts that country's law and law enforcement. Fleeing to another country not making oneself available for law enforcement in the country of the crime, is a violation of the legal
assumptions for living in that country. It is also ethically unacceptable by any standards - lack of extradition treaties do not change that fact.
Hi Carina,welcome to the board. I'm annarocket,admin. and general factotum.
Generally I would take this as a feature because it is WAY too long for the board and you included a lot in your post. But this bears looking into and so I'll leave it up for a while and see where it goes. I've forwarded it to my partner Jill,and we will make a decision as to leaving it up or not in the next week,fair enough?
Hi Carina, As Anna said, welcome! I'm navywife, also an admin. This is an interesting case. But, in the future, you might get more responses to your posts if you keep your posts short and sweet. I skipped your post the first few times I was on here today because it was just SO LONG. What might help you in the future is if you give a very, very brief description of what you're writing about, and then put in a newslink, or two. Then people can go click on the links to stories which go into more detail. It will save you from having to type so much. But thanks for bringing this case to the attention of Justice Junction!
I'm so sorry I didn't get to this sooner,please accept my apology.
This sort of smacks of Natalie Holliway. I certainly hope his money and his father's influence don't hinder prosecution and he is judged fairly. I also hope the media hasn't run rughshod over the evidence.
Please keep us posed in this case and we will do what we can for you.It may not be much but we can at least keep it on the discussion board for public awareness.