Malaysian Military Attaché Will Face Burglary And Attempted Rape Charges in New Zealand

PETALING JAYA: The return of a Malaysian citizen to New Zealand to face criminal charges there is still subject to completion of legal arrangements said the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

It did not however say what these arrangements were.

It was reported on Tuesday that Wisma Putra has given the go-ahead for Warrant Officer 2 Muhammad Rizalman Ismail to be sent back to New Zealand to face burglary and assault charges, although it was subject to a formal request by New Zealand to send him back.

“The matter of Muhammed Rizalman bin Ismail’s return is still subject to completion of legal arrangements and MFAT is not in a position to comment further at this time,” said an MFAT spokesman Wednesday in response to a query by the Star Online on whether New Zealand had formally requested for Rizalman to be sent back to the country.

Muhammad Rizalman was discharged from psychiatric evaluation at the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital at the end of July.

His whereabouts in Malaysia are currently undisclosed.

The former defence staff assistant of the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington was accused of burglary and assault with intent to rape Tania Billingsley, 21, at her Wellington home on May 9.

He flew back to Malaysia on May 22 despite facing trial in New Zealand, as Wisma Putra invoked diplomatic immunity.