Norway-Based Malayali Entrepreneur Linked To Pager Blasts That Killed Hezbollah Operatives In Lebanon?

Kerala-born Norwegian businessman Rinson Jose has come under scanner following accusations that his company, Norta Global, was involved in supplying pagers linked to the deadly Lebanon blasts, according to a report by Hungarian news outlet Telex.

The blasts, which were allegedly intended to target Hezbollah operatives, resulted in the deaths of 12 people in Lebanon and 14 in Syria, with hundreds more injured.

Photo Credit: LinkedIn

Norta Global, based in Sofia, Bulgaria, has since deleted its website, which previously advertised technology consultancy services.

Investigators found that the company's office could not be located at its registered address. When contacted by Reuters, Rinson Jose declined to comment on the allegations.

Despite the claims, Bulgarian authorities have denied any involvement by Norta Global in supplying pagers to Hezbollah.

The Bulgarian national security agency clarified that the company's owner had "not carried out any transactions linked to the sale or purchase of the merchandise" or activities that "fall under laws on terrorism financing."

In India, the Kerala Police and central agencies have conducted background checks on Jose's family in his native village of Ondayangadi, Kerala, as reported by The Times of India.

Jose, the son of tailor Moothedath Jose and Gracy, has been living in Norway with his wife. His brother works in the UK, while his sister is a nurse in Ireland. Jose's uncle, Thankachan, told TOI that the family had been unable to contact him for the past three days.

Although Bulgarian authorities have cleared Jose of any wrongdoing, Norwegian intelligence agency PST and the Oslo police are still investigating his potential involvement.

Rinson Jose's LinkedIn profile indicates that, aside from owning Norta Global, he has been working for the Oslo-based DN Media Group for five years and has extensive experience in brand and publication management.

The pager blasts in Lebanon have been traced back to the Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, whose president claimed the pagers were manufactured under a licensing agreement with BAC Consulting, a Hungarian company.

However, according to Telex, BAC Consulting does not appear to have been operational, as investigators found no office at its registered address.

Norta Global became a focus of the investigation due to its alleged links with BAC Consulting. The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated following the explosions, with Hezbollah officials vowing retaliation.