Former military attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail will not receive help from either the Defence Ministry or the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said this when commenting on the plea of guilty Rizalman made today on a charge of indecent assault against a woman while he was in New Zealand.

“Then let him be punished. I have never protected anyone when it comes to obtaining justice.

“Anyone (under the Defence Ministry or ATM), if found guilty, will still be guilty.

“If he is found guilty then he must be punished. He will not get our help,” Hishammuddin said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The victim, Tania Billingsley, who earlier waived her right to name suppression, was reported to be thrilled with her attacker's guilty plea.

The court today heard that Rizalman was almost naked when he confronted Billingsley in her home. He was arrested on May 10, 2014, following the attack in Billingsley's home in the Wellington suburb of Brooklyn.

After his arrest, Rizalman became the centre of a political furore by leaving New Zealand under diplomatic immunity.

He left New Zealand without facing trial after Malaysia invoked diplomatic immunity – in the belief it did so with the blessing of the New Zealand government.

He returned to New Zealand escorted by police after extradition hearings were filed in Malaysia.