The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is investigating an Australian sailor's horrific allegations of sexual assault by a senior officer while serving in the NZ Royal Navy.
The woman, who was only identified as Jennifer, said during her exchange with the NZ navy she was invited out for a few drinks with senior officers when the ship was docked at the Sembawang port in Singapore back in 2007.
The woman claims her drink was spiked and she was then taken back to the officer's room and sexually assaulted.
Jennifer, who was 26 at the time, reported the assault to her supervisor the next day who dissuaded her from making a formal complaint warning her she would be sent home and be known forever as 'the girl who got raped'.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) told Newshub they are investigating this incident and invite Jennifer to come forward and make a formal report with the NZDF Military Police if she wishes.
An NZDF spokesperson said the allegations reported are deeply concerning and describe behaviour that is "wholly unacceptable".
"The NZDF takes all allegations of offending, especially sexual offending, seriously."
In 2018, Jennifer found the courage to report the horrific attack to the Commonwealth Ombudsmen.
But Jennifer was told the rape would not be invested because it was out of the Commonwealth's jurisdiction.
The report also included complaints about other abuse she suffered including sexual discrimination, bastardisation and sexual harassment, to which the department said her experiences did not meet the threshold for "most serious forms of abuse".
"What leaves me feeling the most betrayed is the one paragraph email back saying it was out of jurisdiction. I was so gutted," Jennifer told the outlet.
The NZDF spokesperson said the investigation of members of the NZ Armed Forces for serious offending overseas is conducted in the same way as if the allegation was made in New Zealand.
"A victim of sexual offending is able to make a report to their command chain, directly to the NZDF Military Police, or to the NZDF Sexual Assault Prevention Response Advisors (SAPRAs).
"In most cases, the allegation will be investigated by the Military Police. However, it may also be investigated by New Zealand Police if the offending occurred in New Zealand, or by a local jurisdiction depending on the country in which it may have occurred."
