Pascal Najadi, son of murdered Ambank founder Hussain Najadi, has questioned how Malaysian authorities can release the suspected mastermind behind his father's murder on grounds of not having enough evidence.

Pascal said the suspect, Lim Yuen Soo, would not have made into the Interpol's red list to begin with if there was insufficient evidence.

"If you look at the requirements for someone to be on the Interpol's highest red alert wanted list, the requirement for anyone to be on the list is very high.

"The state that requests for an Interpol red notice must prove that the charge sheet is at hand, that there would be a minimum imprisonment of at least a year and other legal matters must be fulfilled by the applicant country," Pascal told Malaysiakini in an interview from Moscow.

He added that Interpol does not take its red notice lightly, pointing out how it rejected Malaysian police's request to put Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown on the list as the case appeared politically motivated.

Pascal said this in reference to Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Zainuddin Ahmad's confirmation on Nov 2 that police intercepted Lim, who had been on the Interpol list for some two years, but later decided to release him.

Zainuddin said Lim was released after eight days of detention due to insufficient evidence after the case was referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Sudden change of heart

Pascal said the fact that he was not informed about such an important development in his father's case was an "insult".

"Since the assassination in 2013, the Malaysian police made clear statements that Lim Yuen Soo was the client who paid RM20,000 to the hitman," he said.

As such, Pascal said, it came as a surprise that there was a sudden change of heart and he questioned whether the decision came from the AG's Chambers.

Hussain, 76, died, while his wife was seriously injured after being shot when they emerged from the Kuan Yin Temple in Lorong Ceylon in Kuala Lumpur on July 29, 2013.

The shooter, Kong Swee Kuan, was sentenced to death last year for the murder.

Hussain's assassination has also received renewed spotlight after it was raised in a statutory declaration (SD) revealed yesterday about the gruesome murder of deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais.

The SD made by Kevin's brother Charles Suresh Morais, alleged inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had summoned Kevin in September 2013 about the Najadi murder.

The SD claimed Khalid informed Kevin that Richard Dilaan Morais, another of his brother, was seen leaving the scene of Najadi's murder and inquired if he had any knowledge of this.

Khalid yesterday dismissed this claim as a "total lie" and demanded proof.