New Zealand has lifted diplomatic immunity from a diplomat in Korea who allegedly shoved two policemen and kicked their patrol car.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said this morning that on June 9 he signed a document that waived immunity for the diplomat, which allowed local police to interview the man.
"I think it is well established that we expect diplomats in New Zealand to behave well and be accountable under our laws, and we try and take the same approach in other people's jurisdictions."
Mr McCully would not go into the details of the allegations, but said reports in Korean media were "completely incorrect" to the best of his knowledge.
"They are certainly incorrect about the process, anyway."
He would not give details about the seniority of the diplomat, but said it was not New Zealand's ambassador.
The person was connected to the embassy.
"New Zealand officials from a number of agencies are covered by diplomatic immunity in places like Korea...despite the report out of Korea that he had invoked immunity, that wasn't required. It applied to him until it was lifted by the New Zealand Government."
The Korea Times reported that the diplomat was taken in for questioning after he allegedly obstructed police from arresting two friends on suspicion of molesting a female bar worker.
Seoul police said two companions of the diplomat allegedly molested a female employee at a bar in Itaewon last Tuesday night and assaulted a security guard who tried to take them to police.
As police went to arrest the men, the New Zealand diplomat allegedly pushed them and kicked the patrol car.
But after he was taken to Yongsan Police Station the man was freed after he invoked diplomatic immunity, the report stated. The Vienna Convention gives foreign diplomats immunity from civil or criminal prosecution.
The New Zealand Embassy in Seoul told the Korea Times it was aware of the diplomat's alleged behaviour but refused to give any further information.
It said it would actively co-operate with police.
"If his problem is confirmed, we will make him pay the price by stripping off his diplomat privilege," an embassy official told the Korea Times.
A Foreign Ministry official said although foreign diplomats were usually exempt from criminal charges under the Vienna Convention, this did not apply to serious cases.
This year Malaysian diplomat Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail was sentenced to nine months' home detention after he broke into the home of a Wellington woman without his pants and defecated outside her home.
The envoy left New Zealand in 2014 despite facing attempted rape charges after a botched email gave Malaysian officials the impression he was entitled to diplomatic protection and it would be acceptable for Mr Rizalman to return to Malaysia.
He was returned under extradition on October last year and pleaded guilty to indecent assault in November and sentenced in February this year.
