ASEAN

Wife of Belgian ambassador to S. Korea uses diplomatic immunity to avoid probe

SOUTH KOREAN police said the wife of the Belgian ambassador in the country has decided to use her diplomatic immunity as police investigated her over an alleged assault.

The ambassador's spouse had faced police questioning on May 6 over allegations that she slapped a clothing store employee in the face and another staff in the back of her head early last month.

According to a Yonhap news report, police in central Seoul, which has been investigating the case, said on Sunday that the ambassador's wife told she would exercise her diplomatic immunity.

Following the incident that was captured on CCTV, she was hospitalised with a stroke and was discharged on Apr 23.

The Korea Times said that the Yongsan police station had sent an official query to the embassy whether the wife of Ambassador Peter Lescouhier, named in multiple media reports as Xiang Xueqiu, intends to maintain her diplomatic immunity.

The immunity allows diplomats and their family members to avoid arrest, detention or indictment in a host country.

Yongsan police said the embassy then sent a letter informing police of her intention to use her diplomatic immunity.

As the decision makes it impossible for her to be tried in South Korea, police said that they will close the case instead of sending it to the prosecution.

The Apr 9 incident occurred when she visited a clothing shop in Seoul. As she left, a worker came after her to ask if she had paid for the apparel she was wearing at the moment, because the shop was selling the same item.

She then allegedly came back into the store and pulled the employee's arm and hit her in the head. She also allegedly slapped another worker in the face who tried to stop her.

The incident drew widespread attention and the Belgian Embassy released a statement on Apr 22 saying the ambassador sincerely regretted the incident involving his wife and apologised on her behalf.

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