This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on September 20, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: The application to have fugitives listed on the Interpol red alert takes time as the protocol is subject to the agency’s rules, said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

He said this yesterday in response to a report on Tuesday on the Utusan Online that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, and his father Tan Sri Low Hock Peng were not found on the Interpol red alert list.

Its search on the Interpol site showed only 14 Malaysians were on the red alert list, Utusan Online said.

The 11 men and 3 women included Sirul Azhar Umar who is wanted in relation to the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaaribuu, the news portal added.

On Aug 24, the Putrajaya Sessions Court had issued warrants of arrests for Jho Low and his father.

The warrants of arrests were obtained after charges against Jho Low and his father were filed at the Putrajaya Sessions Court in accordance with Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (Amlatfa) 2001.

Jho Low, 36, was charged with eight counts, while Hock Peng, 66, was charged with one, under Section 4 (1) of Amlatfa 2001.

The IGP had said on the same day that Malaysian police had made a red alert application with Interpol to track and arrest both men, Utusan Online reported.

Jho Low and his father are wanted to assist in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case investigation.

Interpol will decide if names of wanted persons are to be listed for public viewing or limited for the relevant authorities alone, Mohamad Fuzi added.