Police Scotland ‘powerless’ to arrest Burma murder suspect
SCOTTISH police say they have “no authority” to arrest a murder suspect wanted for the death of a man in Burma.
Scottish police say they have “no authority” to arrest a murder suspect wanted in Burma
Harris Binotti has reportedly been tracked down to a property in Glasgow just days after formally being placed on an Interpol “most wanted” list.
Earlier this week, he was spotted leaving a flat in the city’s Craigton district which he is said to share with his Belgian girlfriend.
Interpol has issued an international “red notice” alert for the Scots teacher. He fled the South-east Asian country – also known as Myanmar – days after the death of colleague, Gary Ferguson, 47, who was killed in the capital, Rangoon, in November last year.
Burmese police have said Mr Binotti, thought to be from Dumfries, had not been seen since he and Mr Ferguson had been drinking together in Rangoon, which is also known as Yangon.
Police Scotland, however, said that they had “no authority” to arrest 26-year-old -Binotti, despite reported sightings of him.
Harris Binotti is wanted in connection with a murder in Myanmar
In a statement, the force said: “The Myanmar authorities have the lead in the investigation into the death of Peter Gary Ferguson.
Police Scotland has no authority to arrest anyone at this stage
“Police Scotland has no authority to arrest anyone at this stage.
“Police Scotland will continually monitor any ongoing risk and take all appropriate measures.”
Interpol’s notice alerts police around the world that Mr Binotti is wanted for murder and describes him as 1.68m (5ft 5in) with brown hair and blue eyes.
Gary Ferguson, 47, who was killed in the capital, Rangoon
Mr Binotti, previously known as Harris Stockbridge, and Mr Ferguson taught English at the Horizon International School in Rangoon.
A spokesman for Interpol said earlier this week: “At the request of Myanmar authorities, Interpol issued a red notice, or international wanted persons alert, for Mr Binotti.
The Scots teacher fled the South-east Asian country – also known as Myanmar
“A red notice is a request to provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition issue upon the request of a member country based on a valid national arrest warrant. It is not an international arrest warrant.”
Interpol said it did not arrest individuals, but added: “Many of Interpol’s member countries, however, consider a red notice a valid request for provisional arrest.”