Rick Dean
Registered
52
http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/news/in...sflash-national
Diplomat's son arrested in carjacking
The Associated Press
1/4/04 2:52 PM
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- An 18-year-old son of the head of the Liberian Embassy, arrested on charges including carjacking and robbery, was released from police custody under diplomatic immunity.
Police in suburban Montgomery County, Md., arrested Thomas K. Kollie and two other teenagers in connection with a carjacking in Silver Spring. Police
said about 13 males attacked three men in the car Friday night, took their vehicle and drove into two parked cars in a parking lot. Police believe the three men in the car and three of the suspects were inv
olve
d in a fight earlier in the evening.
Kollie an
d David Alvarado, 19, both from Silver Spring, and a third teenager from Takoma Park, Md., were arrested by police near the attack site. Police learned from the State Department that Kollie had diplomatic immunity because his father, Aaron B. Kollie, is charge d'affaires of the Liberian Embassy in Washington. The youth was released into his father's custody, and a police spokeswoman said Sunday the charges against him were not dropped.
Under Geneva conventions regarding treatment of diplomatic legations, diplomats and members of their immediate families are entitled to immunity from prosecution on charges allegedly committed in the United States. The younger Kollie told The Washington Post he was not involved in the alleged carjac
king.
A State Department spokeswoman said in similar cases the department asks local authorities whether they want to prosecute. If they do, the foreign government is requested to waive immu
nity
. Otherwise,
the alleged offender normally would be deported in se
rious cases.
http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/news/in...sflash-national
Diplomat's son arrested in carjacking
The Associated Press
1/4/04 2:52 PM
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- An 18-year-old son of the head of the Liberian Embassy, arrested on charges including carjacking and robbery, was released from police custody under diplomatic immunity.
Police in suburban Montgomery County, Md., arrested Thomas K. Kollie and two other teenagers in connection with a carjacking in Silver Spring. Police
said about 13 males attacked three men in the car Friday night, took their vehicle and drove into two parked cars in a parking lot. Police believe the three men in the car and three of the suspects were inv
olve
d in a fight earlier in the evening.
Kollie an
d David Alvarado, 19, both from Silver Spring, and a third teenager from Takoma Park, Md., were arrested by police near the attack site. Police learned from the State Department that Kollie had diplomatic immunity because his father, Aaron B. Kollie, is charge d'affaires of the Liberian Embassy in Washington. The youth was released into his father's custody, and a police spokeswoman said Sunday the charges against him were not dropped.
Under Geneva conventions regarding treatment of diplomatic legations, diplomats and members of their immediate families are entitled to immunity from prosecution on charges allegedly committed in the United States. The younger Kollie told The Washington Post he was not involved in the alleged carjac
king.
A State Department spokeswoman said in similar cases the department asks local authorities whether they want to prosecute. If they do, the foreign government is requested to waive immu
nity
. Otherwise,
the alleged offender normally would be deported in se
rious cases.