The Labour Party says the release of ministerial credit card details reveal that Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully knew more about the Malayasian diplomat case than he has let on.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully. Photo: RNZ
After being charged with burglary and sexual assault in Wellington in May this year, Muhammad Rizalman was allowed to claim diplomatic immunity and leave the country.
In a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade botch-up, the 35-year-old was allowed to leave despite Malaysia being prepared to waive his immunity.
Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson David Shearer says Mr McCully has said he was travelling at the time and did not know about it because of communication difficulties.
"Frankly, we've just found out now that those communication difficulties did not exist," Mr Shearer said on Thursday.
"He was in New York and there's an internet charge on his visa bill to show that there was a connection to the internet."
