Red Notice illustration: globe, notice document and magnifying glass

Interpol Issues Red Notice for Serba Dinamik Founder Abdul Karim, Says Anwar

October 20, 2026 FinDeskAsia

Interpol has issued a Red Notice to help locate and arrest Datuk Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah, the founder and group managing director of Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat on 20 October 2026. Karim has been wanted by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) since March, when it obtained a warrant for his arrest over an alleged false statement made to Bursa Malaysia by another listed company, Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB).

Karim has not been convicted of any offence in this case. The charge against him is an allegation that has yet to be tested in court.

Key facts

Anwar disclosed the Red Notice during Prime Minister’s Question Time on 20 October 2026, saying it followed the SC’s efforts to pursue action against Karim.
The SC obtained a warrant of arrest on 12 March 2026 and said Karim was “at large”. He is wanted for an offence under section 369(b)(B) of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 (CMSA).
The case concerns SCIB’s interim financial report for the quarter ended 30 June 2021, which reported revenue of RM852.8 million and was submitted to Bursa Malaysia on 30 September 2021. Karim was SCIB’s chairman and a non-independent, non-executive director.
SCIB’s former group managing director and CEO, Rosland Othman, was charged with the same offence on 12 March and claimed trial. He was granted bail of RM500,000.
According to the SC, the offence carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to RM3 million on conviction.

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What a Red Notice means

Interpol describes a Red Notice as a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person. It is not an arrest warrant in itself. It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued in the requesting country, and each member country applies its own laws in deciding whether to arrest the person named. In practice, it makes crossing borders far harder for someone who is being sought.

Authorities are still trying to trace him. The SC has asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 012-611 2496 or email aduan@seccom.com.my.

The earlier Serba Dinamik case

This is not the first time Karim has faced securities charges. In December 2021, the SC charged Serba Dinamik, Karim and three other senior officers over a false statement to Bursa Malaysia: a revenue figure of RM6.014 billion in the company’s report for the quarter and year ended 31 December 2020. The SC had opened its investigation in May 2021 after receiving a report from audit firm KPMG.

Those charges did not go to trial. In May 2022, the company and four executives paid compounds totalling RM16 million, including RM3 million each from Serba Dinamik and from Karim, after the Public Prosecutor accepted their representations, and the court acquitted them. A compound is a penalty paid to settle an offence without a trial. It is not a conviction.

What Anwar said

Anwar told Parliament that a person’s status, wealth or influence should not shield them from legal action. “Our stand is firm: there is no compromise on corporate crime,” he said (translated from Malay), adding that the capital market must run in an orderly way and investors must be protected. He also said investigations into other transactions linked to Karim are continuing.

What it means for Malaysians

Investors: Quarterly reports filed with Bursa Malaysia carry legal weight. Under the CMSA, the individuals behind a false or misleading statement can face criminal charges, not just the company.
Boards and directors: The SC is pursuing directors, including a non-executive chairman, over a report filed five years ago. Board members are expected to stand behind the numbers their company publishes.
Market confidence: Bringing in Interpol shows that leaving the country does not end a securities case, which matters for public trust in the capital market.

What to watch

Whether Karim is located, and whether Malaysia seeks his return to face the charge.
The progress of Rosland Othman’s trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
Any further action from the SC’s continuing investigations into other transactions linked to Karim.

More regulatory news: FinDeskAsia Regulatory.

Sources: The Star (October 2026); DagangNews (October 2026); Securities Commission Malaysia (March 2026); The Edge Malaysia (March 2026); Bernama (March 2026); Free Malaysia Today (May 2022); Interpol.