Malaysia to send Rizalman to NZ for trial

The Malaysian government is making arrangements to send former military attaché Muhammad Rizalman Ismail back to New Zealand to stand trial.

“In this regard, Malaysia and New Zealand are discussing the required legal procedures to enable this to be done according to the applicable international and domestic laws,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement today.

The statement breaks the ministry’s month long silence on the affair. Its last statement was on July 1, in which Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman explained how Rizalman’s was sent back to Malaysia and pledged not to cover up the incident.

Rizalman, a former military attaché at the High Commission of Malaysia in Wellington, is accused of burglary and assault with intent of rape against a local woman, Tania Billingsley, in a May 9 incident.

On Sunday, the New Zealand Associated Press quoted New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully (left) as saying that Malaysia would soon send Rizalman back to New Zealand to stand trial, but the precise date “is completely in the hands of lawyers”.

Earlier, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key reported said the process would take weeks.

Also on Sunday, a prominent local newspaper, the New Zealand Herald published an editorial lambasting the delays and the explanations given as “unsatisfactory”.

“New Zealanders should be told why a process that seemed set to be straightforward has become so involved. Early last month, Malaysia volunteered to return Rizalman to this country, saying justice had to be done and seen to be done to ensure its credibility and image was upheld internationally.

“Subsequently, the diplomat had to be admitted to a Malaysian military hospital for psychiatric treatment. He was released more than a week ago, but it seems now that he will not be back in New Zealand any time soon,” the newspaper said.