Father of Algerian woman murdered in Glasgow treated like an ‘imbecile’ by Crown Office

The body of Meryem Elbah, 30, was found at a tower block in December 2017, the Sunday Mail reports.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued for the suspect but there has been little progress.

Meryem’s father, Abdelkrim Elbah, said the man was only arrested in Algeria after he made an independent complaint to the police and said his case has been left in limbo because of the Crown Office’s failure to update him.

He said: “I’ve been in turmoil since the death of my daughter. It’s the worst thing that can happen.

“I went to Scotland and I ­collected her body, I met police and they told me that they were progressing with the case.

“They identified a suspect but the Crown Office now seem to think justice has been done with the issuing of an arrest warrant, even if it takes 100 years for a suspect to be brought to trial.

“During the last meeting that I had with the Crown Office and procurator fiscal, they treated me like an imbecile.

“They seem to think that because I’m a Muslim Arab, I’ll be not able to fight for justice for my daughter.

“They’ve told me arrest ­warrants have been issued – both domestic and European – but it’s now 18 months since the murder.

“A man was arrested in Algeria on May 26 but only after I made a complaint to police there.

“I’ve been told no information has been passed on from the Crown Office in Scotland yet.

“The man was in custody for three nights and is now under judicial control but the Algerian authorities will need information from Scotland to put him in ­custody again.”

Meryem moved to Glasgow to attend college in August 2016, with a view to studying law. Her body was discovered at a property in Blythswood Court on December 2017.

Mr Elbah added: “I fear that I still have a long fight on my hands if there’s ever going to be justice.

“I hope that by speaking to the press it’ll put pressure on the authorities – there needs to be international action taken.”

The Crown office refused to comment but the Sunday Mail said it understands prosecutors are not aware of an arrest in Algeria.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing and a warrant has been granted for a named individual.”