WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand officials are firmly convinced that two Vietnamese nationals sexually assaulted two young women employed as servers at a restaurant during an official visit, yet the police noted they could not lay charges against the individuals prior to their departure back to Vietnam. This inability arises from the absence of an extradition agreement between the two nations.
One of the victims recounted that the incidents occurred in a Wellington restaurant in March, just days ahead of a scheduled visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Ph?m Minh Chính to New Zealand. The accused individuals had ties to law enforcement in Vietnam and had attended meetings at a police training facility located near Wellington, as stated by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during a press briefing.
The victim, identified as Alison Cook, described how she and another waitress were assaulted in a private karaoke area by the two men, who forcibly pulled them onto their laps, pinned them against a wall, and groped them. She recounted having been compelled to consume alcohol and suspected that she may have been drugged during the incident.
At the time of the assault, Cook was only 19 years old, and she claimed that she was injured during the attack. The following day, both women reported the assault to the authorities. Although it is standard to refrain from disclosing the identities of individuals who report sexual misconduct, Cook chose to allow her name to be released.
Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel confirmed in a statement that the police are certain about the misconduct of the two men and emphasized that had they still been present in New Zealand, criminal charges would have been pursued. Indecent assault, as defined under New Zealand law, encompasses unwanted sexual physical contact and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
Unfortunately, by the time the identities of the accused were confirmed, both men had already left the country, according to Van Den Heuvel. He clarified that they would not have been entitled to diplomatic immunity, which applies solely to high-ranking diplomats.
Following thorough investigations, New Zealand authorities have now exhausted all viable options, as mentioned by Van Den Heuvel. Subsequently, the police communicated with Vietnamese diplomatic representatives via New Zealand’s foreign ministry, conveying their concerns regarding the episode and the behavior exhibited by the accused.
Cook has urged New Zealand officials to press the Vietnamese government to ensure the return of the men for prosecution. She raised concerns that dismissing the case would set a troubling precedent, suggesting that sexual offenses could go unpunished in New Zealand as long as perpetrators leave the country.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Wellington did not immediately reply to inquiries for comment, and at the time of the report, there were no representatives available when contacted. Additionally, the restaurant where the women were employed did not provide a response when requested for comments.
