Tom Hagen mentioned the crypto expert in the first questions: VG

VG is informed that the 70-year-old billionaire told police about a young man who had a good knowledge of the cryptocurrency and with whom he had several conversations.

It should have been Tom Hagen himself who mentioned the man in relation to his own interest in cryptocurrency, VG reported.

Several times he referred to the now accused man in his 30s as “the boy” and when the police asked him for the name, Tom Hagen replied that he did not remember, VG was informed.

Then he referred to a family member who remembered the name.

Holden: The garden was open for contact.

VG knows that the family member was questioned during the same period, that is, in early November 2018, and that he gave the name to the police. When the interrogation took place, Tom Hagen was offended.

– I do not know why he did not remember the name, but what I do know is that on his own initiative he tells him about the man and gives the police more than enough basis to identify the person he is talking about, says the defender from Hagens, attorney Svein Holden, to VG.

– When was the last point of contact between them, before the disappearance?

– As I see it, it was long before October 31, 2018, answers Holden.

The police’s initial interest in the cryptocurrency was due to the threat letter that was left in the house when Anne-Elisabeth Hagen disappeared on October 31, 2018. In the letter, the alleged kidnappers threatened her with death, and Tom Hagen was accused of nine million euros in the crypto currency Monero.

Also read: This is the killer man with cryptographic knowledge.

Mapping contact

Tom Hagen is now charged with murder or complicity in killing his spouse. He denies criminal charges and was released from custody last week after the Eidsivating Court of Appeal found that there are no reasonable grounds to suspect murder.

Last week, the man in his 30s was arrested and charged with murder or complicity in the murder. Two days later, the charge was modified to assist in the severe deprivation of liberty.

He denies the criminal charges, is released, and calls the charges “absurd.”

Right after the arrest, police said they were familiar with the man’s experience in IT and cryptocurrencies. They also confirmed that she has a relationship with Tom Hagen.

Contact between the two has been central to the police investigation, and several witnesses have been questioned in the search for answers.

Telephones and meetings

According to VG’s information, the police know that the two met through a mutual acquaintance a few years ago, and that they have discussed, among other things, the possibilities of investing in cryptocurrencies or in a cryptocurrency company.

There must have been phone calls and physical meetings, even in the Futurum Business Park where Tom Hagen has his permanent office. However, there was never business collaboration.

Police do not want to comment on the case for the sake of the investigation. Attorney Dag Svensson represents the accused man in his 30s. He also does not want to comment on the details of the case.

Thousands of documents

In the past few days, the defense attorney has begun the extensive work of reviewing 15,000-20,000 pages of case documents in the criminal case.

The documents have a clause, which means that the lawyer has a duty of confidentiality and is therefore prohibited from commenting on the content.

– What can you say based on the charges against your client?

– They haven’t told us what the basis is, so we don’t understand much. Police reported in the newspaper that Anne-Elisabeth Hagen was killed in Sloraveien, and then do not understand the basis for the kidnapping. Then they have departed from that theory, Svensson replies.

Open kidnapping intention to question

The defender has the opportunity to attack the charge by taking the case to court, but he has not yet thought about those courts. He says this is because the state attorney has approved the current charge against the client.

– We assume that the police are also investigating the case with a view to removing you from the case. Based on what the client says, it should be possible, says the lawyer.

The man in his 30s has been in multiple interrogations with the police over the past year and a half, first as a witness and then as a prosecutor.

– We asked when the police want it. He’s ready for it, but no further questioning is planned now, says Svensson.

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