KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia said Tuesday a junior military official at its diplomatic mission in New Zealand returned home in disgrace using diplomatic immunity last month after being charged with sexual assault.
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told reporters that a defense ministry panel will investigate Second Warrant Office Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail, 38, and "stern action will be taken" if he is found guilty. It was not immediately clear what punishment he faced under Malaysia's military rules.
"Diplomatic immunity is not a license for them to commit crime," he said.
Anifah said Muhammad Rizalman worked at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington for the past year as a defense staff assistant when he was detained on May 9 for allegedly following a 21-year-old woman home and assaulting her.
He was charged the next day with burglary and assault with the intent to rape, each of which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. He returned home with his family on May 22.
Anifah said the accused will be sent back to New Zealand "if it is absolutely necessary." Asked to elaborate, Anifah said "I will consider sending him back" if New Zealand thinks that the Malaysian investigation is not being conducted properly and requests his extradition.
He said that initially Malaysia was willing to waive diplomatic immunity so that he could be tried in New Zealand. "But during discussions on May 12, the New Zealand side offered an alternative for the accused to be brought back to Malaysia," he said. "It was never our intention to treat the matter lightly."
However, New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key earlier indicated that his government would have preferred to keep the man in New Zealand and try him there. But Malaysia "stopped us from doing that by invoking diplomatic immunity," he said.
The differing versions of the events could not be immediately reconciled.
New Zealand officials released documents late Tuesday that appear to back its account: A May 10 note from New Zealand officials asking for Malaysia to waive immunity and a May 21 response from the Malaysian High Commission saying Malaysia didn't plan to do that and had decided to repatriate Muhammad Rizalman "as soon as possible."
In the response, the Malaysian High Commission also asked New Zealand officials to seal all the records in the case and drop all charges.
However, New Zealand officials did not offer any immediate response to Anifah's claims about a May 12 meeting and deal.
Anifah said bilateral ties will not be hurt because Malaysia is cooperating closely with New Zealand.
He said the accused was sent for medical checkup after his return. "His physical state is satisfactory. However he is now under psychiatric evaluation to assess his mental and emotional condition," said Anifah.
The defense ministry has established a board of inquiry to investigate the case thoroughly and has given an assurance that "it will not compromise or conceal any facts on the case being fully aware that Malaysia's good name is at stake," he said. "The Malaysian government acknowledges that the incident is a serious matter and we do not have any intention to sweep the matter under the carpet."
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Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand.