And the wait goes on…

The Malaysian diplomat accused of indecently assaulting a young girl is yet to be sent back to New Zealand to face the music.

NEW ZEALAND: It has been 142 days since Malaysian diplomat Muhammad Rizalman was alleged to have attempted to sexually assault Tania Rose Billingsley at her home in Brooklyn, New Zealand.

In an August 4 article carried on FMT, it was reported that nobody knew precisely when Rizalman would be returned to face charges of burglary and attempted rape.

While New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully said the actual date is “completely in the hands of the lawyers”, it is the 21-year-old Billingsley and her immediate family who are forced to live with the injustice of the crimes committed against her and the long wait for justice.

In a report carried by The New Zealand Herald (TNZH), Billingsley’s grandmother Patricia, talked about the family’s frustration at the ongoing delays saying, “It’s not spoken of now, it’s been too hurtful.”

Admitting that the subject has become “taboo” to the family, Billingsley’s grandmother said, “They don’t like to talk about it now.”

According to TNZH, ministry officials in New Zealand confirmed that initial steps were already underway to facilitate Rizalman’s extradition.

“Lawyers from both governments have been sharing documents and working through technically complex legal arrangements,” the spokesman said.

It was also reported that the process was complex due to the absence of any extradition treaty between the two countries.

While the New Zealand government said that ties with Malaysia were still cordial and that they appreciated Malaysia’s co-operation, the one person who is unable to put the incident behind her any time soon is the victim herself.

Rizalman, 38, was arrested by Kiwi police on May 9 and charged in a New Zealand court a day later for burglary and assault with intent to commit rape.

Rizalman is alleged to have followed Billingsley from a bus stop to her home in Brooklyn, where he allegedly assaulted her.

According to reports in New Zealand, the woman fought off the suspect and neighbours went to her aid.

The father of three then fled the house but waited outside for police to show up.

Should he be found guilty, he will face the maximum penalty of a 10-year jail term for both charges.