Grace Mugabe, 44, faced a possible wounding charge after being accused
of repeatedly punching Richard Jones while outside an upmarket Hong
Kong department store in January. The diamond ring she was wearing was
said to have caused several cuts to his face.
The alleged incident happened while Mrs Mugabe and her entourage were
on a 63,000 five-star Asian tour, reportedly paid for with US dollars
withdrawn by her husband from Harare's central bank at a time of
chronic poverty, a cholera outbreak and hyperinflation in Zimbabwe.
Grace Mugabe attacked photographer Richard Jones. But Hong Kong authorities have
allowed her to escape prosecution
Two witnesses gave statements and police concluded there was sufficient
evidence to prosecute, sources close to the investigation said.
But Hong Kong's Department of Justice said last night: Grace Mugabe is
not liable to arrest or detention and enjoys immunity from criminal
prosecution.'
The department declined to say if Mrs Mugabe had requested immunity or whether it was granted automatically.
Mrs Mugabe, who married the 85-year-old Zimbabwean president in 1996
after his first wife died, flew home before Mr Jones reported the
incident and was not interviewed by police.
Zimbabwean tyrant Robert Mugabe and wife Grace, who had no qualms going
on an extravagant shopping spree in Hong Kong while her country starved
Welshman Mr Jones, 42, who works for The Mail on Sunday, said
yesterday: I'm disappointed. It's appalling this woman can behave like
that without being held to account.'
He claimed Mrs Mugabe had acted like a mad woman', hitting him at least ten times in the face and head.
International law expert Simon Young, of the University of Hong Kong,
said Mrs Mugabe was entitled to diplomatic immunity – recognised by the
1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations – but could still face
arrest if her husband were forced out of power.
And invoking the protection could yet cause a headache for the Mugabes
as protocol dictates that those using it should stay away from the
territory in question.
The Mugabes have a daughter at university in Hong Kong and are said to have bought a 6million house there.
The Mail on Sunday (UK)
Post published in: News