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marcusaurelius_phd t1_isnzn7p wrote

Reply to comment by Banana-Republicans in Hong Kong protester dragged into Manchester Chinese consulate grounds and beaten up by AlxIp

They can't be prosecuted unless their government lifts the immunity.

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Chimaerok t1_iso2n3n wrote

Pretty sure having video evidence of them kidnapping a foreigner into their embassy to torture and/or murder him gives the UK the right to say "Those people are not diplomats"

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danbeardan t1_iso8dis wrote

At which point they would be expelled, not prosecuted.

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Playful-Technology-1 t1_isoab9j wrote

They can be prosecuted even without their country lifting the immunity. What diplomatic immunity grants them is the chance to only be prosecuted by their own country.

If a diplomat commits a crime in their own country they can be prosecuted and, if they are charged with an infraction or a crime abroad, they can choose to be prosecuted by the country they're in. Examples could be something so minor -parking ticket- it's not worth the hustle (and it's better to keep cordial relations), something so ludicrous that there's no way the accusation will stand or when they fear worse repercussions from their own government in the case they were brought to court over there.

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Tef-al t1_it0ielb wrote

Or kill a motorcyclist then flee back home where they won't face charges

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Playful-Technology-1 t1_it0locq wrote

Yes, it sucks when you're against someone who's rich and powerful and you're not. Most times, when we're talking about countries that have transparency laws and take seriously accountability and foreign reputation, it works, if we're not talking about those countries, it still sucks that you're against a diplobrat, Trump, Koplowitz, Hearst, Onassis....

Law is clear, they do have to face charges when they're in their own country. It's not like there's any that country doesn't have a precedent on letting the rich and powerful getting scott free .

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Dat_Boi_Aint_Right t1_isp0mg7 wrote

Can and can't don't have the same meanings at a sovereign level. They can be prosecuted, but they almost certainly won't be.

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