Miscellaneous
Saudi diplomat accused of raping Nepali maids uses 'diplomatic immunity' to leave India
A Saudi diplomat accused of sexually abusing and raping two Nepali women hired as domestic servants in his apartment in the Indian Capital New Delhi has left India using diplomatic immunity.A Saudi diplomat accused of sexually abusing and raping two Nepali women hired as domestic servants in his apartment in the Indian Capital New Delhi has left India using diplomatic immunity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said the diplomat “who stands accused of abusing two Nepali maids has left India”. He said the diplomat was protected by the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations but did not give further details.
Two Nepali women, employed as maids at the diplomat's Gurgaon-based residence, had alleged that they were held captive against their will, denied food and water, beaten and raped by up to seven men at a time.
But the Saudi Arabian embassy, in a statement issued immediately after the accusation, denied the allegations as “completely baseless”.
Indian police initiated raided the diplomat’s residence in the satellite town of Gurgaon last weekend and told reporters they found two Nepali women employed as maids, the Guardian reported.
The women, aged 30 and 50, were rescued on 7 September from the 10th and 12th floor of an apartment block after a third, recently hired maid raised the alarm.
Police investigations stalled when officers were unable to question the diplomat, who was reported to have moved with his family into the Saudi Arabian embassy in Delhi due to his diplomatic status. Police officers had sought the Indian foreign ministry’s help obtaining access to the accused man and senior Indian diplomats asked the Saudi envoy to seek his cooperation in the inquiry.
Under the Vienna convention, which entered into force in 1964, diplomats and their family members enjoy a high degree of legal protection in countries where they are posted and cannot be arrested or detained for any crime.
Workers with an NGO told the Guardian both women came from remote rural parts of Nepal and were sent to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants by human traffickers before returning to Delhi with their new employer. Such networks send thousands of women to India from Nepal, and hundreds at least to the Gulf, every year.
Reports of medical examinations of the victims leaked to local media appeared to support the women’s description of repeated abuse.