The Malaysian diplomat who is at the centre of an alleged sexual assault case in New Zealand has been identified as Muhammad Rizalman Ismail.
His identity was allowed to be revealed after media organisations challenged a judge's decision to grant permanent name suppression, The New Zealand Herald reported today.
The identity of Muhammad Rizalman, 38, who worked at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington, was previously concealed due to a immunity order imposed by a Wellington District Court judge on May 30.
However, the High Court at Wellington today held an emergency hearing to overturn the immunityruling and it was successful.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry said it will not waive Muhammad Rizalman's diplomatic immunity just yet. But they are prepared to do so, if necessary, so that the suspect can be prosecuted under the New Zealand law, its Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said.
He said the Malaysian government is committed in ensuring the transparency of the investigation of this case.
"If it is absolutely necessary that we think it is best to (waive his immunity) we will do it without hesitation," he told a press conference in Wisma Putra here today.
Anifah also said, the Malaysian government has confidence with the Defence Ministry's (Mindef) board of inquiry (BOI) that they will communicate with the New Zealand authorities, adding that they will not hesitate to take stern action against the suspect.
"Mindef will not hesitate to act under the Armed Forces Act 1972, if it is proven beyond doubt that Muhammad Rizalman is responsible and guilty of the offense as charged," he said.
He said the waiver would be deemed necessary when New Zealand requested for Muhammad Rizalman's return, out of belief that the investigations in Malaysia were not done properly.
However, he informed that it was the New Zealand authorities who had allowed the man to be brought back to Malaysia in May.
Besides that, Muhammad Rizalman has also undergone medical checks at the Mindef Medical Centre on May 29 which include physical and mental tests.
Anifah said blood and urine tests were also conducted and the results were satisfactory. Muhammad Rizalman is now at the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital to have his mental and emotional health assessed.
On the Malaysian High Commission's website in New Zealand, Muhammad Rizalman, who had previously claimed diplomatic immunity, is listed to be Defence staff assistant, with the rank of a warrant officer II.
The man was arrested after he allegedly followed a 21-year-old woman to her house on May 9 and attacked her.
Astro Awani
Tue Jul 01 2014
A photo of the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: 2 Pegawai Memerintah Skuadron, ini senarai mangsa terkoban
Tiga anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) wanita dan dua Pegawai Memerintah Skuadron antara 10 yang terkorban dalam nahas dua helikopter bertembung dan terhempas di Pangkalan TLDM Lumut.
Bursa Singapura: Perubahan peraturan bantu pelabur panggil mesyuarat khas
Peraturan baharu itu boleh menjadi langkah positif dalam usaha memperbaik tadbir urus korporat.
Airasia Consulting teruskan libat urus bagi nyahlabur Srilankan Airlines
AirAsia Consulting berhasrat untuk meneruskan libat urus dengan pihak International Finance Corporation (IFC) yang diberi mandat memberi nasihat kepada kerajaan Sri Lanka berhubung usaha nyahlabur dalam SriLankan Airlines Ltd.
Harga minyak: Peningkatan harga beri kesan positif dan negatif - SERC
Terdapat kebimbangan mengenai "kesan pesanan kedua" bekalan minyak yang dijangka menyebabkan kenaikan harga tenaga dan seterusnya inflasi. Ini akan melemahkan perbelanjaan pengguna dan permintaan pelaburan.
Victoria Beckham sifatkan reunion Spice Girls hadiah terbaik sambut usia ke-50
Victoria Beckham Sifatkan Reunion Spice Girls Hadiah Terbaik Sambut Usia 50
Kerajaan perlu ambil kira graduan sedia ada di pasaran
Kerajaan perlu mengambil kira graduan Pendidikan dan Latihan Teknikal dan Vokasional (TVET) yang sedia ada dalam pasaran ketika ini jika mahu melihat keberkesanan penetapan gaji premium untuk graduan dalam bidang itu secara optimum.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: PM akan umum bantuan untuk waris mangsa - TPM
Kerajaan akan mengumumkan bantuan khas kepada waris 10 anggota dan pegawai Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) yang terkorban dalam nahas dua helikopter di Pangkalan TLDM Lumut.
Pasaran buruh: Produktiviti tenaga kerja masih perlu dipertingkat
Kadar pengangguran telah menurun kepada paras sebelum wabak Covid-19 sebanyak 3.3 peratus pada suku keempat 2023, namun, kadar pengangguran berasaskan kemahiran berada pada 37.4 peratus dalam tempoh yang sama.
Kewangan: Golongan Millenial, Gen Z Malaysia teraju perbankan Islam
Malaysia juga mempunyai kadar tertinggi pengguna yang hanya menggunakan perbankan Islam (42 peratus), berbanding hanya lebih suku (26 peratus) daripada responden global.
MCMC nasihat tidak muat naik dan padam video
MCMC mengingatkan orang ramai supaya tidak memuat naik atau menyebarkan rakaman video nahas dua helikopter TLDM.