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Undiplomatic Crimes
Bashing diplomats is always popular when news dries up. Recently, Canadian and British papers listed statistics and described, in general terms, procedures for dealing with misbehaving diplomats. As the Canadian London Free Press acknowledges, most diplomats take their roles seriously and are model visitors in their host countries. It is their special status that provokes a strong public reaction, despite diplomatic crimes being a rarity.
On July 4, 2007, the London Free Press reported that over the past 15 months, Canada has seen numerous criminal offenses involving foreign diplomats and their staff. These crimes range from possession of crack cocaine and solicitation of prostitution, to bribery, conspiracy and production of child pornography.
In Britain, the Daily Mail reported unlawful behavior by foreign representatives as well. On July 1, 2007, the paper states that diplomats allegedly committed 30 serious crimes over the past two years and that seven Saudi diplomats have been forced to leave the country the past decade. And while they are not quite as free as the Daily Express suggests to rape, rob and murder in [the] UK, arresting diplomats is somewhat of a challenge.
Police have no legal authority to make an arrest without a waiver of diplomatic immunity from the diplomat's home country, the Daily Express observes. Marie-Christine Lilkoff, a Foreign Affairs spokesperson for Canada, told the London Free Press that when an offense is committed, the country must request a waiver so that the person may appear in court and be sentenced under Canadian law if found guilty. -- Genevieve Cohoon, legal assistant, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, LLP, Washington.
Thu, / / Embassy Law Link
