The psychiatric evaluation of former military attaché Muhammad Rizalman Ismail has been completed, Armed Forces chief Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said today.

“As to when are we sending him (to New Zealand), that depends on Wisma Putra and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and the two countries (Malaysia and New Zealand).

“There are certain procedures that need to be followed,” Zulkifeli ( left ) told reporters when asked about the status of Rizalman’s extradition process.

Rizalman is accused of burglary and assault with intent of rape against a New Zealand woman, Tania Billingsley, in a May 9 incident.

He was military attaché with the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington at that time.

Malaysian authorities had pledged that Rizalman would be flown back to New Zealand to stand trial, after he had returned to Malaysia after invoking diplomatic immunity.

He was flown back to Malaysia after a miscommunication by New Zealand Foreign Affairs Ministry led their Malaysian counterparts to the mistaken impression that it has no objections to Rizalman leaving New Zealand.

Prior to the Malaysian government giving a reassurance that Rizalman would be sent back to New Zealand, the New Zealand Herald had reported in July saying that Rizalman would be flying to Auckland after his psychiatric evaluation is completed, quoting unnamed sources.

The following day, the same daily reported that Rizalman may miss his flight, quoting unnamed doctors at Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital as saying that, “Rizalman was ‘not looking good’ and might need further tests”.