Mark Koh Kian Tiong, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detective who last held the rank of Assistant Superintendent, deserted the Singapore Police Force under a shroud of mystery last year.

At that time, he was under investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), sources told The Straits Times.

Now, the 35-year-old is a wanted man internationally.

Koh is listed under Interpol's wanted list for fraud, although no details on his alleged offence are available.

The police would not say if the fraud was linked to his work as an investigator in unlicensed moneylending.

A red notice - the same alert level used for escaped terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari - has been issued against him to Interpol's member nations.

This means that any of these 186 countries can arrest him on the spot and extradite him to Singapore.

It is not clear if Koh has fled the country.

However, a police spokesman did clear up one possible concern - Koh was not in possession of his service revolver when he disappeared.

Last Friday, a notice in the Government Gazette said that Koh was deemed to have 'deserted' and had been struck off the force.

Under the law, an officer is deemed a deserter when he leaves his duties with 'the intention to remain permanently absent without leave or of not returning to his duty'.

This offence is rare and carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a $5,000 fine.

Koh, who was sacked on Aug 13 last year, appears to have been in financial difficulties. He owed about $29,000 to three banks and was declared a bankrupt in January after he failed to pay for his car loan.

His $10,500 debt to Malayan Banking arose from a hire-purchase agreement for a Mitsubishi Lancer car.

With interest, he had to pay off $64,000 over the 10-year loan period. He kept up with monthly instalments for only 13 months before defaulting.

Koh did not respond to the lawsuits which were filed late last year, after he stopped showing up for work.

When The Straits Times went to his last known address in Punggol, the HDB flat appeared to have been unoccupied for some time.

A layer of dust caked the metal grille gate and layers of fliers filled the planter box outside the door. More leaflets rested on the gate.

Two legal documents - pertaining to his bankruptcy case - were stuck to his door.

Neighbours said that they did not know the occupants. One of them said that a housing agent had brought two men to view the five-room unit recently.

Koh married a Chinese national in January last year. It was his second marriage.

Those who knew him said that he was a friendly and popular man who got on well with his colleagues, including the junior officers.

One colleague said Koh did not have a reputation for gambling or other vices, but he had problems controlling his finances.

'He would always go out with the junior officers whenever they asked him to. And when you go out, you spend money,' he said.

joolin@sph.com.sg

cheekin@sph.com.sg