For disgraced diplomat
withheld] will be informal and low-key,’’ an MFAT document stated.
The return also followed an assurance from Sergeant Marc May to MFAT that police would take no action against Razouqi, who still had diplomatic immunity.
The newly-released documents also show police believed the alleged November 2015 assault was ‘‘sufficiently serious to warrant prosecution’’. MFAT became involved soon after and set up a task force to manage it.
In the final days of awaiting Kuwait’s decision, MFAT protocol chief Joanna Kempkers emailed New Zealand diplomat Hamish MacMaster saying he should personally travel to Kuwait to receive the response.
‘‘If the waiver is not granted, we ask you to convey the inevitable consequence that Razouqi will need to be formally withdrawn or made persona non grata.’’
The supplied talking points noted a refusal to waive the immunity would be a ‘‘disappointing outcome from New Zealand’s perspective as our strong preference is that those accused of a crime in New Zealand face justice in New Zealand’’.
Two days later MacMaster responded: ‘‘Kuwait declines the request to waive .... diplomatic immunity and decides to withdraw him to Kuwait City.’’
The documents revealed that police confirmed it would not be making a public statement about the return prior to his arrival.
Then-Labour foreign affairs spokesman David Parker said in August the New Zealand Government should publicise cases when other nations refused to waive immunity.
New Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters on Friday reaffirmed that stance: ‘‘diplomatic immunity is not anonymity.’’
Figures released by MFAT under the Official Information Act also showed that in five years, MFAT has asked five times for foreign governments to waive immunity. Only once was the waiver granted.
A spokesman for MFAT said: ‘‘When granting permission for the diplomat to return to New Zealand for a short period to finalise his departure, the Ministry was clear on what was expected. This included the diplomat was not to conduct any official business or hold any formal farewell functions.’’