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Sana'a: A Yemeni businessman's son wanted by British police for questioning over the murder of a Norwegian woman in London last week has arrived in his native Yemen, his lawyer confirmed on Sunday.
"Farook came to my office on March 19, along with one of his relatives and handed me a written authorisation to defend him," the Yemeni lawyer Mohammad Al Bakwali told Gulf News in an exclusive interview.
The lawyer's statement is considered to be the first confirmation that Farook Abdul Haq is now in Yemen since his disappearance from London last week.
British press reports said that Farook Abdul Haq had disappeared from London on March 15, 24 hours before the body of his university friend, 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen, was found in the basement of the block of flats where he lived.
"From now on my office will be Farook's address for any one who wants to contact him," said lawyer Al Bakwali, who previously defended the Yemeni billionaire Shaher Abdul Haq.
However, the lawyer said he did not receive any official document about his client from anybody and that the authorisation from 26-year-old Farook was to protect him from press abuse.
"He authorised me to protect his rights in general and to protect his rights against press abuse," he said.
Extradition
When asked if it would be possible to meet Farook or his father, the lawyer said, "They have nothing to say now, they did not receive any official document or request ... they just heard from media."
"The father told me he will be always with the law, not outside the law, but this does not mean that he will disown his son as some press reports said," the lawyer said referring to British press reports which said [the father said would disown his son if was responsible for the death of Vik Magnussen].
Yemen's constitution forbids extradition of citizens to other countries in article number 44, which says, "A Yemeni national may not be extradited to a foreign authority."
When asked can a trial be held for Farook in Yemen for charges over a crime committed outside Yemen, he said, "It's early to speak about this if you mean Farook's case.
"But generally speaking, it happens, it happened before," he added.
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