Waive suspect’s immunity–DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has asked the Panamanian government to waive the diplomatic immunity of a Panamanian man accused of raping a 19-year-old girl.

Erick Bairnals Shcks was released from police custody on Monday afternoon based on an order issued by Judge Honorio Guanlao of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 57.

At the same time, Guanlao ordered the police to withdraw the rape case against Shcks.

“[He] is a technical administrative staffer of the Embassy of Panama. As such, he enjoys immunity as far as criminal jurisdiction is concerned,” said DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez.

“But we have asked the Panamanian government to waive this immunity so that the Panamanian officer could face our justice system here,” he added.

He told reporters that the DFA was still waiting for a reply from the Panamanian government.

The Makati City court ordered the foreigner’s release after the DFA issued a second certification declaring that he was in fact covered by diplomatic immunity.

The alleged rape occurred at about 11 p.m. on April 23 when Shcks invited the girl over to his place, a few days after he befriended her. She told the police that he had made her smoke marijuana which caused her to lose consciousness.