http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/11954/Foreign+diplomats+free+to+rape,+rob+and+murder+in+UKFOREIGN embassy staff working in Britain are getting away with robbery, fraud and assault under the cloak of diplomatic immunity.
New figures released by the Foreign Office show that diplomats in this country allegedly committed 30 serious offences during the past two years. But because of their diplomatic status not one has been prosecuted.
Embassy staff from South Africa are accused of robbery, attempted robbery and car theft. A member of staff from Jordan is suspected of an assault causing actual bodily harm. And staff from Egypt, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia are accused of shoplifting. Two officials from teetotal Saudi Arabia are accused of drink-driving. A Nigerian is suspected of fraud.
But under the terms of the 1961 Vienna Convention foreign officials and their families and staff are protected from prosecution in their host country – effectively putting them above the law. Unless their home country agrees to waive their immunity from prosecution, there is nothing the British government can do except risk a diplomatic incident by ordering their expulsion.
The crime figures show that behind the tinted glass of the diplomatic limousine, drink-driving is commonplace, with 16 cases in the past two years alone.
Many diplomatic missions also display a cavalier attitude towards British driving regulations and taxes. Almost 5,500 parking tickets, speeding tickets and other “minor†traffic fines went unpaid by diplomatic staff last year.
Last year’s unpaid fines total almost £420,000 and a formal appeal by the Foreign Office recovered just £22,713. Saudi Arabia was the worst offender, clocking up a £30,000 bill for more than 300 motoring offences. Other countries clocking up more than 100 penalties last year included France, Germany, Russia, Afghanistan and China.
Topic: FOREIGN DIPLOMATS FREE TO RAPE, ROB AND MURDER IN UK (Read 1848 times)