Ottawa, August 19: A Saudi diplomat, facing charges for traffic violations and causing collision for an Ottawa police cruiser, is called back to his country before appearing in a court set for him.
The 30-year-old junior Saudi diplomat, Marwan al-Harbi, is accused of driving at top speed provoking a police chase, which involved five police cruisers, and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, but has left the country, Canadian authorities said on Tuesday.
Al-Harbi was charged with criminal negligence and causing bodily harm, while pursued.
Police had received a call on June 2 about a vehicle being driven recklessly. A police SUV, which was pursuing al-Harbi, collided head-on with another police cruiser due to the chase and a police officer had also received injuries.
Ottawa police said he was not intoxicated but could not explain his reckless driving. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, the police said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Canada’s Foreign Affairs department told AFP he ‘was recalled back to Saudi Arabia’ after the department asked his government “to waive the appropriate diplomatic immunities in order for the charges to be heard in a Canadian court.”
“Once informed of the recall, the department removed the individual from its list of diplomats and informed the police and court authorities that he no longer enjoys diplomatic status in Canada.”
Consequently, if the diplomat returns to Canada, he would be prosecuted for criminal negligence.
—–Agencies