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Malaysia vows stern action on NZ assault suspect

By WTOP Staff

EILEEN NG
Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia said Tuesday it will take stern action against a junior military official if he is found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in New Zealand where he was working at the country’s diplomatic mission.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told reporters that a defense ministry panel will investigate Second Warrant Office Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail, 38, who was charged in New Zealand’s capital Wellington last month but evaded trial by using diplomatic immunity. He returned home on May 22.

“Diplomatic immunity is not a license for them to commit crime,” Anifah said. It was not immediately clear what punishment he faced under Malaysia’s military rules.

However, the defense ministry “will not hesitate to take stern action against the accused … if it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is responsible and committed the alleged misconduct,” he said.

Anifah said Muhammad Rizalman worked at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington for the past year as a defense staff assistant when he was detained on May 9 for allegedly following a 21-year-old woman home and assaulting her.

He was charged the next day with burglary and assault with the intent to rape, each of which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. He returned home with his family on May 22.

Anifah said the accused will be sent back to New Zealand “if it is absolutely necessary.” Asked to elaborate, Anifah said, “I will consider sending him back” if New Zealand thinks that the Malaysian investigation is not being conducted properly and requests his extradition.

Both Malaysia and New Zealand claim the other country was primarily responsible for initiating the man’s return.

Anifah said that, at first, Malaysia was willing to waive diplomatic immunity so that he could be tried in New Zealand. “But during discussions on May 12, the New Zealand side offered an alternative for the accused to be brought back to Malaysia,” he said. “It was never our intention to treat the matter lightly.”

New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key this week said his government would have preferred to keep the man in New Zealand and try him there, but that Malaysia “stopped us from doing that by invoking diplomatic immunity.”

Documents released by New Zealand indicate its officials asked their Malaysian counterparts to waive immunity in a May 10 note, which Malaysia declined in a May 21 response.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully acknowledged Tuesday, however, there were “informal communications over what is a complex case” which he said “would have been ambiguous to the Malaysian government.”

Anifah said bilateral ties will not be hurt because Malaysia is cooperating closely with New Zealand.

He said the accused was sent for medical checkup after his return. “His physical state is satisfactory. However he is now under psychiatric evaluation to assess his mental and emotional condition,” said Anifah.

The defense ministry has established a board of inquiry to investigate the case thoroughly and has given an assurance that “it will not compromise or conceal any facts on the case being fully aware that Malaysia’s good name is at stake,” he said. “The Malaysian government acknowledges that the incident is a serious matter and we do not have any intention to sweep the matter under the carpet.”

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Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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