A former Aberdeen student suspected of murdering a colleague in Myanmar will not be sent back to face trial.
It is understood the Home Office is refusing to extradite ex-teacher Harris Binotti as the move would “violate several human rights obligations”.
The 27-year-old went on the run in November 2016 after the body of Gary Ferguson was found in his flat in Rangoon after a night of drinking.
He had suffered fatal injuries to his head and chest.
The next day Binotti, who is on Interpol’s most wanted list, took a flight to neighbouring Thailand, and last year he was seen at a flat in the Craigton area of Glasgow.
Following the incident Police Scotland said it had “no authority” to arrest him.
According to the Sun on Sunday, Mr Ferguson’s family was “distraught” at the failure of the extradition bid.
His brother Martin said: “It was quite distressing.
“We will have to seek justice in the UK.”
In a statement, the family said: “We won’t stop until Binotti is behind bars.”
Binotti is understood to have grown up in Dumfries but lived in Aberdeen between 2010 and 2013 while studying at the Robert Gordon University.
The Home Office said it “would not confirm or deny” the extradition request before an arrest is made.