Police are preparing to request the extradition of two Vietnamese officials accused of sexually assaulting a pair of young female servers at a Wellington restaurant last year.
One of the women told the Associated Press they were assaulted in a private karaoke room at the Vietnamese restaurant where they worked in March 2024.
She accused the two officials of pulling the two servers into their laps and groping them. The women were also allegedly forced to drink alcohol, and the then 19-year-old believed she was also drugged.
The woman sustained an injury following the incident, which was reported to police the following day.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said police received two complaints of assault last March.
The officials, who were “associated with the police” in Vietnam, had met with officers at the New Zealand Police College days before Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính was due to visit the country, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters in December.
“Detectives investigating the matter identified the suspects as members of a Vietnamese delegation, who had already left the country,” Chambers said today in a statement.
“While no extradition treaty exists between New Zealand and Vietnam, police have continued to explore all available options.”
Chambers said police “have had positive engagement with Vietnamese officials to date, and I am confident that will continue”.
“While this process is ongoing and complex, we hope our ongoing efforts provide some assurance to the complainants that we are taking this matter seriously,” Chambers said.
“Travel alerts are in place at the border to ensure police are notified, and given the opportunity to take affirmative action, if the individuals of interest in this case return to New Zealand.”
