Alleged victim of NZ diplomat sex assault case speaks out

The New Zealand woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a Malaysian diplomat said she was unhappy with her government for the way it handled the case.

Twenty-one year old Tania Rose Billingsley, in a an interview with TV3’s 3rd Degree, said she was angry that the alleged attacker, Muhammad Rizalman Ismail, was allowed to leave the country and called for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully.

“I would like an apology from him for what I feel is really an incompetent handling of the situation.”

“He is so intent of putting the blame and responsibility on everybody else. I feel like he was not actually addressing and putting energy towards fixing on what had happened. I think he should resign.”

Muhammad Rizalman, a staff assistant for defence at the Malaysia High Commission in Brooklyn, Wellington, faced charges of burglary and assault with intent to commit rape after he was arrested for allegedly following Billingsley from a bus stop to her house and attacking her on May 9.

The father of three was said to have broken into her house and undressed her but Billingsley had allegedly fought off Muhammad Rizalman and neighbours had gone to her aid.

He was charged in court on May 10 but claiming diplomatic immunity and was brought back to Malaysia, a move Billingsley claimed was kept quiet until the day Muhammad Rizalman left.

"I found out that he was going to leave the day that he left. Up until then the police had been really great at keeping me informed, but even they didn't know what to tell me.”

“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 be held accountable here."

Billingsley, who was granted automatic name suppression, voluntarily had the suppression lifted so she could talk about the case and help address issues on sexual violence in New Zealand, which she claimed received lackadaisical response from the country’s leaders.

"Because I'm hoping that in revealing who I am and having a face to put to this alleged victim that I'll be able to help address some of the issues around sexual violence in this country,”

"I would like to put a personal challenge to the government," she said. "The fact that sexual violence is still so rampant in our society is proof in itself that you are not doing enough." she said in the broadcast interview today, which was also carried on television station’s website.

Muhammad Rizalman is expected to return to New Zealand to face trial.

He has been undergoing psychiatric evaluation at the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

The New Zealand Herald reported on Sunday that a senior doctor at the hospital said Muhammad Rizalman was "not looking good" and might need further tests as he appeared “withdrawn and depressed.”