POLICE Scotland have launched a fresh appeal to trace the country’s six most wanted criminals.
The six men are wanted for murder, rape, drug dealing, fraud and absconding from custody. Some of them have been on the run for 10 years.
Among them is Derek Ferguson, 52, wanted for the murder of Thomas Cameron at the Auchinairn Tavern in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, in 2007. Officers believe Ferguson, who uses a fake Irish accent, could be hiding in Ireland, Spain or the Netherlands.
Israr Ali, 42, is wanted for the murder of Waqar Shar at a flat in Shawlands, Glasgow, in 2010. He is believed to be in Pakistan or France.
Jonathan Kelly, 36, who sparked a massive manhunt in Glasgow after failing to comply with licence conditions following his release from Low Moss Prison in 2014 is also on the list. A £5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture.
Officers are also seeking Liverpool man Mark Quinn, 52, who is suspected of being involved in an £11 million amphetamine operation north of the Border in 2013 and 2014. A Fugitive Unit was established when the single national force took responsibility for policing in 2013 and officers said more than 200 wanted individuals have been traced as a result. In 2015 a dedicated website was launched to help track down the most wanted criminals.
The other men on Police Scotland’s list are Iraqi-born Rezgar Zengana, 34, who was convicted of raping a 25-year-old woman in Glasgow in 2006 but failed to appear for sentencing and Latvian Martin Banis, 41, who is wanted for fraud and has been sentenced to six years in jail in his absence.
The unit works with police forces around the world, with people arrested overseas brought back to Scotland to face trial, while almost 200 people have been arrested in Scotland at the request of other law enforcement agencies. The website states: “Great efforts have been put into investigating these crimes, it is frustrating for the victims, their families and investigating officers when individuals evade capture and avoid facing justice.
“Police Scotland will continue to make every effort to ensure that they are caught and will face the charges against them in court. Warrants will remain valid until arrests are made.”
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