A charge against a United Nations diplomat under the Land Transport Act was withdrawn in the Suva Magistrates Court today.

Deputy Head and Senior Sustainable Development Officer for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Tim Westbury was charged with the offence of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.

The charge was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions following confirmation that Westbury had been accredited diplomatic status in Fiji as a result of his employment with the UN.

Fiji’s Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act gives effect to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and states that no diplomat shall be liable to any form of arrest or detention and a diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction.