Matthew Todd Miller at the North Korean Supreme Court
U.S. citizen Matthew Todd Miller sits in a witness box during his trial at the North Korean Supreme Court in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central Reuters

New Zealand's controversial case involving a Malaysian diplomat facing charges of sexual assault on a local woman entered the court. The accused, Muhammad Rizalman Ismail, 38, was granted bail on Tuesday. The incident took place in May this year, when the diplomat was working as a defence attached to the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington. He was arrested on May 9 for assaulting a 21-year-old woman named Ms Tania Billingsley at her home.

The diplomat is facing charges that include burglary and assault with the intent to rape. Despite his arrest after the incident, Rizalman left the country by taking advantage of the diplomatic immunity. This led to a huge public outcry and the Key government was under pressure to bring back the accused to make him face trial in New Zealand. Rizalman returned last week, reports News 24.

Conditional Bail

ABC News reported that the 38-year-old man stood in the dock with his hands clasped on his back as his bail application was heard in the Wellington District Court. Rizalman's lawyer, Donald Stevens, argued that the decision to send him back to Malaysia was that of the Malaysian officials, by invoking diplomatic immunity.

Defending the accused, the lawyer said, "my client was not fleeing as has been suggested by a section of the media. Rather, he left because the Malaysian High Commission would not waive diplomatic immunity as directed by the Malaysian government as he was a serving officer in the army and had to follow its orders." Arguing that Rizalman will not run away from the trial, Stevens said his client never challenged New Zealand's right for his extradition because he wanted to return to Wellington and "get the matter sorted out".

Framing Of Charges

Granting the bail, Judge Arthur Tompkins made it clear that Rizalman's lawyers have to apply again to have it extended beyond Nov 3. The judge ordered Rizalman to return to the court on Nov 21 for entering the charges arising from the alleged attack.

Legal experts say that the charges can land Rizalman in jail up to 10 years, if he is found guilty. The victim, Ms Billingsley has already waived her right to anonymity under the New Zealand law, applicable in sex assault cases. The woman is frustrated at the way the case is being handled. She has expressed her anguish publicly by saying that it appeared as if New Zealand officials are more concerned about hushing up the case than delivering her justice.