Norway: Businessman\'s wife abducted; ransom demanded

Norway: Businessman's wife abducted; ransom demanded

AP  |  Copenhagen 

said Wednesday the missing wife of one of Norway's richest men has been abducted, and that her suspected kidnappers have demanded a

Her husband a and owner of power facilities is number 172 on a list of the country's 400 most wealthy people published by Norway's

His fortune in 2018 amounted to nearly 1.7 billion kroner (USD 2 billion), according to agency

Police said a note found in the couple's house, east of Oslo, described what would happen to her if the demanded wasn't paid in the cryptocurrency Monero.

Police did not give a figure for the amount, but Norway's VG newspaper reported it was 9 million euros (USD 10.3 million.) The newspaper reported that the note said Falkevik Hagen would be killed if police were involved.

Broeske declined to comment other than saying "the threats (in the note) were of a very serious character."

"The reason for us to go public with this case now is that despite a broad and extensive investigation, we need more information," he told a conference.

"We have no suspects in this case," he said. Police have been "on the case for several weeks. That is all I'd say," he added.

Broeske said "those behind have chosen to communicate digitally and we have had no other type of contact." Police had urged the family not to pay any ransom.

Police believe she disappeared from the couple's home, some 50 kilometres from the Swedish border.

Broeske said they were working with and on the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, January 09 2019. 17:25 IST