Panamanian accused of rape has no diplomatic immunity, says police

MANILA, Philippines –  It turns out the Panamanian man accused of raping a 19-year-old girl in Makati City has no diplomatic immunity after all.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police on Thursday said it pressed rape charges against Erick Bairnals Shcks, 35, a diplomatic passport holder, and would request his transfer to the Makati police office where he would be detained.

Earlier, the Panamanian ambassador interceded on the suspect’s behalf and sought his release, arguing that he was protected by diplomatic immunity.

But “apparently, the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) found out that he is not covered by the diplomatic immunity,” said CIDG Women and Children’s Protection Division head Supt. Emma Libunao.

The DFA told the CIDG that Shcks was a technical officer of the Panama Maritime Authority, and while he worked for the embassy and held a diplomatic passport, he was not covered by diplomatic immunity at all.

The alleged rape, according to the police, occurred at about 11 p.m. on April 23 when Shks invited the girl over to his place after befriending her a few days earlier. She told investigators the Panamanian made her sniff a marijuana-like substance, rendering her almost unconscious, and then raped her.

The alleged victim reported the crime to the CIDG in the morning of April 25, and CIDG operatives arrested the suspect at a McDonald’s branch in Makati City.

Libunao said the CIDG will work closely with the Makati police on Shcks’ case. She said Shcks was currently in CIDG custody, but was not detained with other suspects as part of the protocol involving foreign suspects.

Originally posted at 01:04 pm | Thursday, April 26, 2012