Malaysian diplomat on sex attack charge granted bail

A Malaysian diplomat accused of a sex attack on a woman in Wellington in May was granted bail on his second appearance since his extradition in the Wellington District Court on Tuesday.

Former defence attaché Muhammad Rizalman had been held in custody since returning to New Zealand late on Friday and appearing in court on Saturday to face charges of intent to rape and burglary.

Radio New Zealand reported that Judge Arthur Tompkins ordered that he not contact any witnesses in the case, according to

Xinhua .

He was also banned from central Wellington’s Cuba Street and two of the city’s suburbs.

Rizalman would return to court for a further bail application next week, said the report.