KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 ― Malaysian officials have offered assurance again that military attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail will be sent back to New Zealand to face criminal charges but said this will only happen at an “appropriate” time.
The assurance by armed forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkefli Mohd Zin and deputy defence minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri was given yesterday amid doubts over Muhammad Rizalman’s return due to concerns over his mental health.
“We will send the warrant officer to New Zealand when it is appropriate and after all the needs that were discussed have been met,” Zulkefli was quoted by The Star as saying.
“It is not about time. We also do not know when, but we believe that he will be sent later,” he added.
Deputy defence minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said that Muhammad Rizalman is “innocent until proven otherwise,” and urged Malaysians to not judge him until and unless a court pronounces him guilty of the alleged crimes.
“As promised, Rizalman will be sent back and we should let due process to take place,” he was quoted by the News Straits Times as saying.
Muhammad Rizalman was arrested by Kiwi police on May 9 on allegations of burglary and sexual assault on a 21-year-old woman.
He was charged in a New Zealand court a day later for burglary and assault with intent to commit rape, with both charges carrying the maximum penalty of a 10-year jail term.
Muhammad Rizalman later invoked diplomatic immunity and was recalled to Malaysia, triggering accusations in New Zealand that he was abusing the privilege to escape punishment.
The case caused an embarrassing public exchange between both nations, before New Zealand backed down after learning that its own officials had led Malaysia to believe Muhammad Rizalman could be recalled to face punishment here.
