Malaysian diplomat remanded in New Zealand over alleged rape

WELLINGTON — An ex-Malaysian defence attache was remanded in custody by New Zealand authorities yesterday (Oct 25), after fleeing the country five months ago over an alleged rape offence.

Former second warrant officer Muhammad Rizalman Ismail worked at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington until May this year. On May 9, Rizalman allegedly tried to rape a 21-year-old New Zealander at her Wellington home. He was arrested on May 10, but returned to Malaysia on May 22, after a mix-up between Malaysian and New Zealand officials over diplomatic immunity.

On Friday, Rizalman was extradited back to New Zealand, arriving in Auckland first before flying to the capital, Wellington, for a court appearance yesterday morning.

At a hearing that lasted just a few minutes, New Zealand Justice of Peace Hewitt Humphrey remanded Rizalman in custody and cancelled an arrest warrant that had been issued on May 30.

Malaysian opposition member Zuraida Kamaruddin criticised Rizalman as “an embarrassment to his uniform and country”.

”This is the first case in Malaysia where someone in uniform is charged with such conduct. It is something that reflects badly on the country’s integrity,” she told the New Zealand Herald.

Ms Zuraida, an MP for Ampang, added: “The Malaysian authorities were trying to be hush-hush about the whole thing but then it was exposed.

“Wrong is wrong, no matter who you are. I made a statement saying he should be brought back to New Zealand jurisdiction instead of bringing him back to Kuala Lumpur … now they (the Malaysian authorities) are honouring their word to take him back to face the case.”

In July, the alleged victim Ms Tania Billingsley, who waived her right to anonymity under sexual abuse cases in New Zealand, also criticised New Zealand officials for seemingly being more concerned about avoiding a diplomatic incident than ensuring justice was served.

A statement from the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry said that Rizalman was accompanied back to New Zealand by two New Zealand police officers and two Malaysian armed forces personnel.

Rizalman undertook a psychiatric assessment when he returned to Malaysia and was discharged from the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital at the end of July.

Sources: The New Zealand Herald, The Malaysian Insider