International envoy charged over breaking into woman's home in New Zealand and sexually assaulting her won’t face justice because of diplomatic immunity
- A foreign diplomat sexually attacked a 21-year-old woman in New Zealand
- He was arrested but not brought to court because of his right to immunity
- Diplomats in foreign countries can't be arrested under Vienna Convention
- The man's home country refused to waive his right to immunity and he left New Zealand
A foreign diplomat arrested for sexually attacking a 21-year-old woman in the New Zealand capital has left the country because of his political immunity.
With the man's home country refusing to waive the diplomat's right to immunity, the New Zealand government was unable to bring before a court.
Because of his political status, the man was able to use his right to immunity under the Vienna Convention, which stipulates diplomats in foreign countries cannot be arrested or detained.
A foreign diplomat arrested in the New Zealand capital after he sexually attacked a 21-year-old woman has left the country because of his political immunity
The man, who had an interim name suppression, was arrested by police after he followed his young female victim to her Wellington home but has since left the country, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Police said the man was let go because of his full diplomatic immunity, despite there being enough evidence to charge the man with intent to rape and assault.
Aged in this 30s and an employee at a high commission in Wellington, the man refused to give a DNA sample and was also charged with burglary.
The victim has been informed of the situation police spokesman Nick Bohm said.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) spokesman said the man was immediately sent home after his government refused to waive his immunity.
The diplomat was working in high commission in Wellington
'The New Zealand Government expects diplomats to respect New Zealand laws. However, under the Vienna Convention there is global recognition that diplomats are entitled to immunity from arrest and detention,' the spokesman said.
The ministry also said such cases and serious crimes being committed by foreign diplomats were rare.
It is expected that the man will be investigated by authorities in his home country and the New Zealand government will monitor the process.
The Vienna Convention states that diplomats, their immediate family and staff cannot be arrested or detained and it also prevents their houses from being searched and from being called as witnesses in a prosecution or be prosecuted.
Rape Prevention Education survivor advocate Louise Nicholas has hit out at the process calling diplomatic immunity a 'crime in itself'.
'It's really difficult for the Government. There is nothing you can do about it. The victim has to live with knowing there will be no justice for her. It is disgusting of the [diplomat's] government to allow this man home.
'For these people to be able to legally walk free is a crime in itself.'
However, the advocate commended the governments efforts to have the man's immunity waived, but is hoping to see him extradited in the future in New Zealand, where he committed the crime.
Rape Prevention Education survivor advocate Louise Nicholas called diplomatic immunity a 'crime in itself'
No comments:
Post a Comment