Police in Norway have confirmed that the wife of one of the country’s richest men has likely been kidnapped.
Anne-Elisabeth Hagen has not been seen since October 31st last year.
Police have spent the last ten weeks searching for the 68-year-old; however investigators have yet to turn up any trace of her whereabouts.
Mrs Hagen is married to Tom Hagen, an energy and real estate magnate with an estimated fortune of around €174m.
At a press conference this morning, Inspector Tommy Brøske, head of the joint unit for intelligence and investigation, said a ransom demand had been made and the purported kidnappers have issued serious threats.
He said police have yet to receive any indication that she is still alive, but added "we haven’t received any indication that she isn’t alive either.”
A view of the home of Norwegian billionaire Tom Hagen and his wife Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen in Fjellhamar, Norway, 09-01-2019. Image: Tore Meek/AP/Press Association Images
He said the case has been deliberately kept under wraps in the hopes someone would come forward with information.
Norwegian media is reporting that the kidnappers have demanded €9m to be paid in the cryptocurrency, Monero.
Inspector Brøske said police had advised the family not to pay the ransom.
He said police have had “very limited” contact with the group claiming to be the kidnappers online.
He said Mrs Hagen was last seen at her home on Lørenskog near Oslo on October 31st.
A view of the home of Norwegian billionaire Tom Hagen and his wife Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen in Fjellhamar, Norway, 09-01-2019. Image: Tore Meek/AP/Press Association Images
Extensive forensic investigations have been carried out at the property and a number of tracks have been found in the house.
The home is close to the popular Langvannet hiking area and police are urging anyone who was close by over the Halloween period to contact them.
They are particularly interested in talking to anyone who may have video footage from that morning and afternoon - regardless of whether it is suspicious.
"If someone has recorded video footage – for example from a dashboard camera in a vehicle, mobile phone, video surveillance of a home or the like – recorded in the vicinity of Sloraveien the day or days before, we are very interested in accessing this," said Inspector Brøske.
