Who Is Kerala-Born Rinson Jose Linked To Lebanon Pager Blasts?

New Delhi: The name of an Indian emigrant to Norway has cropped up in the investigation into the pager blasts aimed at Hezbollah operatives, which killed 12 people in Lebanon and left thousands injured. Now a Norwegian citizen, Rinson Jose migrated to the country from Wayanad in Kerala and reports had initially suggested that a company owned by the 37-year-old in Bulgaria was involved in the supply of the pagers to the militant group.

Though the devices initially looked like they were made by Taiwanese-based Gold Apollo, the company said the pagers were produced by a Hungarian company called BAC Consulting. However, new findings point to additional connections in Bulgaria and Norway.

Norta Global Ltd., a Bulgarian company registered in Sofia in April 2022, is now said to be one of the possible players who supplied the device, local media state that the Hungarian company was only involved on paper and the actual logistics were handled by Norta Global. Rinson Jose is listed as the sole owner of Norta Global. Bulgaria’s National Security Agency has launched an investigation into the incident. However, it says the company has no employees, minimal profits, and is operating from an address linked to Agentsya Za Novy Firmy, a Bulgarian shell company agency. An investigation by Bulgarian security agency SANS said no such shipment passed through the country, thus clearing Rinson Jose and his Norta Global, according to India Today.

Having completed his MBA from Pondicherry University and Masters in International Social Welfare and Health Policy from Oslo, Rinson is now reportedly in the US, The Week reported.

According to a report by news agency IANS, Jose went to Norway to pursue higher studies a few years ago. He briefly worked in London before going back to Oslo.

According to his LinkedIn page, he has also worked for almost five years in digital customer support for Norwegian press group DN Media, AFP reported. DN Media told newspaper Verdens Gang that he has been on an overseas work trip since Tuesday and that they have not been able to reach him.

Relatives told IANS that Jose is settled with his wife in Oslo and has a twin brother based in London. “We speak daily over the phone. However, for the last three days, we have had no contact with Jose. He is a straightforward person and we trust him fully. He will not be part of any wrongdoing. He may have been trapped in these blasts,” Thankachen, a relative of the 37-year-old, told the news agency on Friday.

He added that they have not been able to contact Jose’s wife either. Norta Global, founded by Jose, declared a revenue of $ 725,000 (approximately Rs 6 crore) for consulting activities outside the European Union last year, NDTV reported.