Epstein Facilitated Contact Between Blair's Former Prosecutor and Fugitive's Father
Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, assisted the billionaire father of a fugitive murder suspect in obtaining legal counsel from Tony Blair's former Director of Public Prosecutions, according to documents released this week. The paedophile financier claimed to have spoken directly with Lord Ken Macdonald, who subsequently charged Shaher Abdulhak over £20,000 for a consultation meeting in Paris.
The Murder Case and Fugitive Flight
This development follows the 2008 murder of Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen, who was found raped and strangled in a London apartment after celebrating her exam results. The prime suspect, Farouk Abdulhak, fled the United Kingdom on a flight to Cairo before boarding his father's private jet to Yemen, a country with no extradition treaty with Britain.
For years, Martine's bereaved family has campaigned unsuccessfully for Abdulhak's return to face trial. The murder suspect has consistently avoided justice while taunting the victim's family, recently claiming he would not return to Britain because he "doesn't like the weather."
Epstein's Email Correspondence Revealed
Emails from the so-called Epstein Files, released by the US Department of Justice, show the financier writing to Shaher Abdulhak in 2012 about his conversation with Lord Macdonald. Epstein claimed the former prosecutor suggested the case might involve "rough sex" and that autopsy findings would be "a factor but not a big one."
In his email, Epstein emphasized Lord Macdonald's previous role, writing: "He held the position of head of prosecutions, the exact same position that he would be dealing with." The financier went on to suggest potential outcomes including bail, reduced charges, or house arrest combined with charity work.
The Paris Meeting and Legal Fees
Further correspondence reveals Lord Macdonald traveled to Paris to meet Shaher Abdulhak, charging £20,000 plus VAT, first-class travel expenses, and accommodation costs. The barrister, described in documents as someone who "has seen and done it all and is held in the highest esteem," later agreed to travel to Yemen, though the financial arrangements for that journey remain undisclosed.
Lord Macdonald's Response and Defense
Lord Macdonald, currently a serving member of the House of Lords and Deputy High Court Judge, acknowledges receiving a call from Epstein but claims to have "no recollection" of the conversation. He maintains there was nothing improper about his involvement in the case and that he was "completely unaware" of Epstein's reputation at the time.
In a detailed statement, Lord Macdonald explained: "Following my call with Epstein, and at Mr Abdulhak's request, I travelled to Paris to see Mr Abdulhak. For the avoidance of doubt, all my fees were paid by Mr Abdulhak and I neither expected, nor received, anything from Epstein."
The Failed Yemen Mission
The former prosecutor claims his subsequent trip to Yemen was undertaken with the explicit goal of persuading Farouk Abdulhak to return to Britain to face justice. He stated he had discussed the visit with Metropolitan Police officers investigating Martine's murder and believed the suspect was guilty of the crimes.
"During the course of our meeting in Paris, Mr Abdulhak was clear that his son had committed these crimes and told me he very much wanted him to return from Yemen," Lord Macdonald said. "Unfortunately, I failed to persuade him and so my visit to Yemen was unsuccessful."
Background and Context
Lord Macdonald served as Director of Public Prosecutions and head of the Crown Prosecution Service from 2003 to 2008 under Tony Blair's government, leaving the role approximately five months after Martine Vik Magnussen's murder. He is a co-founder of Cherie Blair's Matrix Chambers and succeeded by Keir Starmer in the DPP position.
Shaher Abdulhak, known as the "King of Sugar" in Yemen, is one of the country's wealthiest individuals. His son Farouk remains in Yemen despite international efforts to secure his return to Britain for trial.
The newly released emails provide unprecedented insight into how Jeffrey Epstein leveraged his connections to facilitate legal consultations for wealthy clients, even in cases involving serious criminal allegations and international fugitives.
