Tania Billingsley, the woman who accused Malaysian diplomat Muhammad Rizalman Ismail of attacking her at her home in New Zealand in May, said today Rizalman left the country against her wishes.
Speaking to local TV network 3 News NZ programme 3rd Degree for the first time since the incident, Billingsley, 21, said she felt the New Zealand authorities didn't pursue her complaint hard enough.
"I got this call and it was like, 'Yeah, you know we just found out that he's leaving today’," she said.
"Obviously I was frustrated and I was angry because I had, from the very beginning, said that I wanted him to stay in New Zealand and to be held accountable here."
Her wishes, though, counted for nothing, for Rizalman returned to Malaysia on May 22, with diplomatic immunity, even after being charged in a Wellington court on May 10, a day after his arrest.
Rizalman was a staff assistant for defence at the Malaysia High Commission in Brooklyn, Wellington, and held the military rank of second warrant officer.
Billingsley said she first became aware of Rizalman's diplomatic status on May 11, which is also her birthday.
She was informed by the police officers handling her case and although they did well, they could not prevent Rizalman being squirrelled away by higher authorities.
Rizalman remained in Malaysia for over a month. His case was publicised on June 28 and the Malaysian government was again pressured to extradite him back to New Zealand.
His return, approved by Wisma Putra, has however been delayed this week as the 38-year old soldier is still undergoing psychiatric treatment, the Defence Ministry said.
'Legal process yet o play out'
According to the 3 News NZ report, the legal process is yet to play out, so Billingsley cannot talk about the accused.
But she had decided to apply, through the Wellington district court, to make her identity public so that she can hold the New Zealand government accountable.
Billingsley slammed both Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully for their soft approach in her case. Even an apology now was too little, too late, she added.
"I would take them (Key and McCully) actually committing to address rape culture and to being just more engaged in this stuff as an apology instead; if they want to swap an apology for them starting to deal with this stuff then I'm okay with that," she said, adding that McCully should resign.
Billingsley is also angry that the NZ prime minister look bored when talking about her case.
"I don't feel from him any sincerity in his concern for me," she said.
Billingsley said she also felt sorry for Rizalman's family for they were also victims.
"I would also like to take this space to let Rizalman's family know that I am thinking of them and that I hope they are being supported. I can't even begin to imagine how hard the last couple of months must have been for them as well," she said.
In response to Billingsley coming on record to formally complain, the New Zealand government only responded in a letter that it was sorry and hoped to do better.
"Our focus now is on performing the rest of our role in this matter to a high standard and on learning from the lessons that come out of the independent inquiry," Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive John Allen wrote to Billingsley, hours before the interview went on air.
Speaking to local TV network 3 News NZ programme 3rd Degree for the first time since the incident, Billingsley, 21, said she felt the New Zealand authorities didn't pursue her complaint hard enough."I got this call and it was like, 'Yeah, you know we just found out that he's leaving today’," she said.
"Obviously I was frustrated and I was angry because I had, from the very beginning, said that I wanted him to stay in New Zealand and to be held accountable here."
Her wishes, though, counted for nothing, for Rizalman returned to Malaysia on May 22, with diplomatic immunity, even after being charged in a Wellington court on May 10, a day after his arrest.
Rizalman was a staff assistant for defence at the Malaysia High Commission in Brooklyn, Wellington, and held the military rank of second warrant officer.
Billingsley said she first became aware of Rizalman's diplomatic status on May 11, which is also her birthday.
She was informed by the police officers handling her case and although they did well, they could not prevent Rizalman being squirrelled away by higher authorities.
Rizalman remained in Malaysia for over a month. His case was publicised on June 28 and the Malaysian government was again pressured to extradite him back to New Zealand.
His return, approved by Wisma Putra, has however been delayed this week as the 38-year old soldier is still undergoing psychiatric treatment, the Defence Ministry said.
'Legal process yet o play out'
According to the 3 News NZ report, the legal process is yet to play out, so Billingsley cannot talk about the accused.
But she had decided to apply, through the Wellington district court, to make her identity public so that she can hold the New Zealand government accountable.
Billingsley slammed both Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully for their soft approach in her case. Even an apology now was too little, too late, she added."I would take them (Key and McCully) actually committing to address rape culture and to being just more engaged in this stuff as an apology instead; if they want to swap an apology for them starting to deal with this stuff then I'm okay with that," she said, adding that McCully should resign.
Billingsley is also angry that the NZ prime minister look bored when talking about her case.
"I don't feel from him any sincerity in his concern for me," she said.
Billingsley said she also felt sorry for Rizalman's family for they were also victims.
"I would also like to take this space to let Rizalman's family know that I am thinking of them and that I hope they are being supported. I can't even begin to imagine how hard the last couple of months must have been for them as well," she said.
In response to Billingsley coming on record to formally complain, the New Zealand government only responded in a letter that it was sorry and hoped to do better.
"Our focus now is on performing the rest of our role in this matter to a high standard and on learning from the lessons that come out of the independent inquiry," Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive John Allen wrote to Billingsley, hours before the interview went on air.
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