'No authority' for police to arrest Scot wanted for murder in Burma

Police say they have "no authority'' to arrest a murder suspect wanted by Interpol for the death of another man in Burma.

Harris Binotti, 26, has reportedly been tracked down to a property in Scotland and was seen leaving a flat in Craigton, Glasgow which he said to share with his Belgian girlfriend.

Interpol has issued an international ''red notice'' alert for the Scots teacher who left the Asian country after colleague Gary Ferguson, 47, was killed in 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 Burma.

Police Scotland, however, said that they had "no authority'' to arrest Mr Binotti, despite reported sightings of him.

In a statement, it said: "The Myanmar (Burma) 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 will continually monitor any ongoing risk and take all appropriate measures.''

Interpol's notice alerts police forces around the world that Mr Binotti is wanted on a charge of murder and describes him as 1.68m (5ft 5in) with brown hair and blue eyes.

Mr Binotti and Mr Ferguson taught English at the Horizon International School in Rangoon.

A spokesman for Interpol said on Tuesday: ''At the request of Myanmar authorities, Interpol issued a red notice, or international wanted persons alert, for Mr Binotti.

''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.

Interpol said it did not send officers to arrest individuals, but added: “Many of Interpol's member countries, however, consider a red notice a valid request for provisional arrest.''