Advice sought in alleged assault by Mugabe's wife
A police report into an alleged assault by the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on a Hong Kong photographer has been sent to the Department of Justice to decide if she should be prosecuted.
Police are understood to believe they have sufficient evidence to prosecute after two vital witnesses were traced, a source said.
However, police assessing the case were understood to have raised with the department the issue of whether Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe, 43, might claim diplomatic immunity if any proceedings were brought, the source said.
Richard Jones, chief photographer with Hong Kong's Sinopix photo agency, claimed Mrs Mugabe repeatedly punched him and tried to wrestle his camera away after he took pictures of her in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, on January 15. The Welshman, 42, said he suffered bruises and cuts on his face and forehead inflicted in part by a diamond-encrusted ring Mrs Mugabe was wearing.
He made a police report on January 17, by which time Mrs Mugabe and her entourage had returned to Zimbabwe. It is not known if Hong Kong police have contacted her since her return.
Police found the event took place just out of range of a security camera on the side of Tsim Sha Tsui Commercial Centre, the source said.
However, two witnesses - an Austrian tourist and a Hong Kong resident - had been traced and had given detailed statements to police, the source said. The Austrian tourist is said to have watched 'open-mouthed' as the incident unfolded and is understood to have given a statement that confirms Jones' version of events.
A police spokesman declined to comment on the case or to say if any attempt had been made to contact Mrs Mugabe or whether she would face extradition proceedings.
He would not say whether Mrs Mugabe would be arrested or questioned if she returned to the city. He said: 'No arrest has been made so far. The case has been referred to the Department of Justice for advice.'
Jones was working for The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain. That newspaper last week carried a report claiming Robert and Grace Mugabe had bought a HK$40 million home in Tai Po and that Mrs Mugabe had held talks over a diamond cutting and polishing venture while in the city. Two other Hong Kong-based photographers working for the newspaper - American Tim O'Rourke and Briton Colin Galloway - were allegedly assaulted nine days ago outside the Tai Po property by two men and a woman understood to be employed as bodyguards.
The police spokesman said investigations into the Tai Po incident were continuing. 'The case is classified as alleged common assault. No arrest has so far been made and legal advice will be sought in due course.'
