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.
Niaga AWANI: Sinergi diperlukan bagi merealisasikan aspirasi mampan negara
Kenyataan itu juga mengatakan bahawa RHB telah mencapai kemajuan yang ketara ke arah operasi neutral karbon, mencapai pengurangan 43 peratus dalam pelepasan gas rumah hijau (GHG) operasi berbanding garis dasar 2016, merangkumi Skop 1, 2, dan 3 (Perjalanan Perniagaan melalui Jalan dan Udara.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
AWANI Pagi: Raya Oh Raya: Alamak! Poket dah "kering" ni
Diskusi 8.30 pagi Jumaat bersama Dr Nur Lalua Rashidah Mohd Rahsiad, Pengurus, Perhubungan Korporat Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) mengenai pengurusan kewangan selepas berdepan perbelanjaan yang banyak dimulai sesi sekolah dibuka diikuti puasa dan hari raya. Ini termasuk bagaimana pengurusan yang baik boleh membantu membawa keluar keluar daripada pergelutan kewangan sementara menunggu gaji bulan seterusnya.
Niaga AWANI: RHB tingkatkan sasaran perkhidmatan kewangan kepada RM50 bilion menjelang 2026
Menjelang 2030, RHB menyasarkan untuk mencapai pengurangan 20 peratus dalam sektor ini. Menjelang 2050, matlamat RHB adalah untuk mencapai pengurangan sehingga 96 peratus dalam pelepasan yang dibiayai merentas lima sektor.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Reformasi Ekonomi: Antara subsidi, mekanisme & kesejahteraan rakyat
Pengarah dan Penganalisis, Research Institute for Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore (ITS) Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Dr Md Shukri Shuib mengulas berkenaan usaha rasionalisasi subsidi petrol yang akan dilaksanakan kerajaan, serta impak kepada reformasi ekonomi ini.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Iran beri amaran Israel terhadap tindakan kententeraan lanjut
Seorang komander Pengawal Revolusi Iran berkata, Iran boleh mengkaji semula "doktrin nuklear" berikutan ancaman Israel.
Niaga AWANI: Harga bahan api: Mekanisme sesuai dilaksana, dorong guna tenaga lebih cekap
Bagi menyambut usaha tindakan perubahan iklim global, Malaysia menyasarkan untuk mencapai keseimbangan melalui pelaksanaan mekanisme penetapan harga bahan api yang bersesuaian dalam mendorong kepada penggunaan tenaga yang lebih cekap dan peralihan kepada RE; tetapi pada masa yang sama mengambil kira impak sosioekonomi terhadap rakyatnya.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Kuda lumba dikesan cuba 'curi-curi' naik kereta api
Haiwan itu dilihat muncul di stesen Warwick Farm di NSW dan berlari menuju ke garisan kuning platform seperti menunggu ketibaan kereta api.
Bajir Dubai: UAE masih bergelut selepas ribut
Operasi di lapangan terbang dan hab perjalanan utama kekal terganggu selepas ribut melanda Selasa lalu.
AWANI Pagi: Jom derma darah, jalankan tanggungjawab sosial anda
Awani Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Nursyazwani Saiful Sham membincangkan mengenai kepentingan menderma darah khususnya untuk membantu mereka yang alami masalah darah disebabkan keturunan atau menghidapi kanser darah. Timbalan Pengarah I, Pusat Darah Negara KKM, Dr Tun Maizura Mohd Fathullah mengajak masyarakat di luar sana tampil menyahut seruan murni ini.
Piala Asia B-23: Indonesia ajar Australia cara main bola
Walaupun Australia mendominasi perlawanan pada separuh masa kedua, kehandalan benteng pertahanan Indonesia mudah mematahkan serangan demi serangan.