In a shocking turn of events in Wellington, New Zealand, authorities revealed their frustration in the face of an alleged sexual assault case involving two Vietnamese officials and two young female servers. Despite having “no doubt” about the perpetrators’ identities, the authorities were unable to press charges before the men fled back to Vietnam, due to the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries.
The incident unfolded in March at a restaurant in Wellington, just days before Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính was scheduled to visit New Zealand. The accused men, reportedly connected to the Vietnamese police force, had engaged in meetings with officers at a police training college in Wellington, as disclosed by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Alison Cook, one of the victims, bravely recounted the harrowing ordeal to The Associated Press, detailing how she and another server were assaulted in a private karaoke room. The men forcibly pulled them onto their laps, pinned them against a wall, and subjected them to unwanted groping. Cook also shared her suspicion of being drugged during the assault, which left her with injuries.
Following the assault, the women promptly reported the incident to the authorities. Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel emphasized the severity of the situation, affirming that the women were indisputably subjected to indecent assault while on duty. Under New Zealand law, indecent assault encompasses unwarranted sexual physical contact and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
Unfortunately, the perpetrators managed to evade accountability by leaving the country before their identities could be confirmed conclusively. Despite not being shielded by diplomatic immunity typically granted to high-ranking diplomats, the men escaped the reach of justice, leaving New Zealand law enforcement with limited recourse in pursuing the case.
Expressing deep concern over the incident, New Zealand authorities took the unprecedented step of sending a formal letter through the foreign ministry to Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung. The letter outlined the distressing events and urged cooperation in holding the offenders accountable for their actions.
In a plea for justice, Cook called upon New Zealand officials to implore the Vietnamese government to extradite the perpetrators for prosecution. She emphasized the broader implications of abandoning the case, warning against setting a dangerous precedent that condones sexual crimes committed by foreign nationals who exploit legal loopholes to evade justice.
As the investigation reached a standstill, Van Den Heuvel underscored that all feasible avenues had been exhausted, leaving the victims grappling with unresolved trauma and seeking closure. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Embassy in Wellington remained silent in response to inquiries, underscoring the diplomatic complexities surrounding the case.
Amid the silence from both the accused men and their diplomatic representatives, the voices of the victims linger, echoing a plea for accountability and justice. The restaurant where the women were employed also maintained a discreet stance, declining to comment on the distressing incident that unfolded within its walls.
Ultimately, the unresolved case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by cross-border legal constraints and the imperative of international
