South Africa recalls diplomat from Norway for drunk driving

South Africa has decided to recall a diplomat at its embassy in Norway after he crashed an embassy car and injured a person while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, newspaper VG reported on Wednesday.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry confirmed that South Africa would call home first secretary Mhlupheki Booysen Dombo at the embassy in Oslo after he crashed his car with another car and injured a woman in that car in the early morning of Jan 3.

"We can confirm that we have received a feedback that South African authorities will call home the diplomat suspected of drunk driving. It is not yet clear when the diplomat will return to South Africa, but Norwegian authorities want a speedy departure," Astrid Sehl, a press contact of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told VG.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry summoned South African ambassador Queen Anne Zondo last week and requested that Dombo's diplomatic immunity be revoked so that he could face charges in Norway.

South African authorities have refused to revoke Dombo's immunity and instead agreed to bring him home, VG reported.

Also in September last year, police alerted Norway's foreign ministry that Dombo had been stopped on suspicion of drunken driving. On both occasions, he has refused to submit to blood alcohol testing, claiming diplomatic immunity. Endit