One Of Norway's Richest Men Arrested On Suspicion Of Killing His Missing Wife

KEY POINTS

The Norwegian electric and property magnate was arrested at his family's home outside Norway's capital of Oslo
Police said they have suspected Anne-Elisabeth Hagen was dead since June 2019 and evidence pointed to Tom Hagen's possible involvement
Hagen and his lawyer denied the accusations following his arrest

Norwegian energy and property magnate Tom Hagen, 70, was arrested at his family’s home in Fjellhamar, outside the country’s capital of Oslo, on suspicion of killing his wife, Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, 68.

Anne-Elisabeth Hagen disappeared in October 2018, but the case was not made public knowledge until January 2019. Police said at the time it was due to threats and ransom demands Hagen’s family had received for her safe return. There was also little to no evidence at the time of her disappearance that pointed to a possible location or suspects involved.

The ransom was reportedly set at $10 million in a cryptocurrency called Monero. Tom Hagen is reportedly worth an estimated $200 million, much of which stems from his electric company Elkraft AS and various property developments.

Anne-Elisabeth Hagen had served as a board member on her husband’s holding company until September 2018.

“As the case now stands, police have advised the family not to settle the claim,” Police inspector Tommy Broeske told reporters in January 2019.

However, police said Tuesday that they suspect Anne-Elisabeth Hagen was killed and the evidence gathered points to Tom Hagen’s possible involvement.

"It is important to emphasize that although we have charged Tom Hagen, the case is still being investigated and there are several unanswered questions. It will be particularly important to clarify the role played by Tom Hagen, to find Anne-Elisabeth Hagen and to determine whether other people are involved," local police said.

“As the case initially appeared, our main theory was that Anne-Elisabeth Hagen had been abducted by someone with a financial motive. And in June 2019, we came to believe that she had most likely been killed.

“We now believe there was no abduction and there was never any genuine negotiations. In other words, there was a clear and well-planned attempt at misleading the police.”

Tom Hagen and his attorney denied the accusations.

“He strongly maintains that he has nothing to do with this,” Tom Hagen’s lawyer, Svein Holden, told reporters.