The search for a fugitive ex-Cambodian police chief hiding in Malaysia has intensified, with Malaysian police now joined by their Cambodian counterparts, a minister said today.

Deputy Internal Security minister Mohamad Johari Baharum said he had been told by police late Tuesday that Cambodian authorities were in the country to search for Heng Pov, convicted in connection with the 2003 murder of a judge.

"I have been told that they have arrived in Malaysia," Mohamad Johari told AFP . "The Cambodian police are also looking for him here."

"We're not sure where he is, but he's here hiding somewhere (in Malaysia)," he added.

The minister indicated Heng Pov's fate if caught was unclear, but said Malaysia may hand him over to Cambodian authorities, who want him to serve an 18-year sentence for the murder.

"I am not very sure if he will be extradited," said Mohamad Johari.

"If we manage to track him down maybe we will surrender him to the Cambodian police who are here in Malaysia right now," he said.

Sentenced in absentia

Police, who have already been working with Interpol to catch Heng Pov, were not immediately available for comment.

Malaysia does not accept asylum seekers, nor does it have an extradition treaty with Cambodia.

Heng Pov fled murder charges in Cambodia in late July and headed to Singapore where he was arrested in early September for overstaying his visa in the city-state.

However, Singapore and Cambodia do not have an extradition treaty, and Heng Pov was released and travelled to Malaysia.

Under Malaysia's immigration laws, Cambodian nationals can enter the country and stay for a month without applying for a visa.

"According to Malaysia's immigration he came in through Singapore. But we do not know why Singapore let him come here to Malaysia," said Mohamad Johari.

Heng Pov was convicted and sentenced in absentia on September 18 for conspiracy in connection with the killing of municipal court judge Sok Sethamony, who was shot in Phnom Penh.

He is also alleged to be involved in failed assassination attempts on a newspaper publisher, a prosecutor, an electricity authority official and the national military police chief.