SERVICEMEN IN MALAYA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 14

SERVICEMEN IN MALAYA

Jurisdiction “Compromise”

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 21.

While service authorities will have the primary right of jurisdiction over soldiers who commit offences “on duty” while serving with New Zealand units that form part of the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve in Malaya, arrangements will be made administratively for civil courts of the federation normally to continue to exercise jurisdiction.

Broadly speaking, the decision whether a serviceman will be dealt with by his own authorities or by the Malayan Courts would depend on the degree to which the alleged offence affects the local civilian population. Normally, where the offence causes injury to a civilian or damage to civilian property, the case would be tried in the local courts.

Arrangements agreed on “a reasonable compromise” and "should prove satisfactory and equitable in practice," the ActingMinister of External Affairs (Mr R. M. Algic) said today. They were similar to agreements among North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members.

"The question of the legal status of our servicemen stationed in Malaya is one which the Government has followed with close attention during the negotiations on the defence agreement.” Mr Algic said. An agreement sets out in detail the safeguards to which any serviceman (or dependant) charged in the federation would be entitled, he said.