KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s foreign ministry says a military official accused of assaulting a woman in New Zealand will be returned there Friday to face trial.
The ministry says Muhammad Rizalman Ismail will be accompanied by two New Zealand police officers and two Malaysian military officers.
It said in a statement Thursday that the Malaysian government was confident he will be given a fair trial.
Muhammad Rizalman was working at the Malaysian Embassy in Wellington when he was arrested May 9 for allegedly following a 21-year-old woman home and assaulting her.
He was charged with burglary and assault with the intent to rape, each of which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. He claimed diplomatic immunity and returned home May 22. -AP