If a foreign diplomat, with diplomatic immunity, is found to have explosives @ an airport, does he still have?

Question

diplomatic immunity?
Does he get away scott free?

So, an Iraqui with diplomatic immunity, can smuggle a bomb on board an airliner, then get off the plane, and let the bomb blow up the plane, and he goes unpunished?

Answer 1

All the answers thus far are rubbish.

Diplomats assigned to the country they are in, or in transit there or back home, have immunity from arrest and trial. They ARE subject to airport security searches but NOT to searches for customs purposes.

If a diplomat is found carrying explosives or weapons that he is not allowed to have s/he will be detained until the Foreign Ministry gives instructions on what should be done. (Bear in mind military attachés are diplomats and they might be carrying arms with the consent of the host country or in connection with their sale -- but still they are subject to aircraft safety rules which dictate how arms may be shipped, usually in a locked container in the hold).

A diplomat acting inconsistently with his or her position will be declared persona non grata and deported (actually, given 24 hours, or 3 days, or a week to leave the country). Normally the Ambassador (or if it's the ambassador in trouble the foreign minister in the sending country) deals with the issue.

Where a rogue state -- North Korea, Nigeria, etc. -- has kidnapped somebody and put the person in a crate and tried to smuggle the person out of the country, and is found, the diplomats involved would normally be expelled.

If a diplomat commits a crime, the host country may ask that his immunity is lifted by the sending state. If it refuses, there could be reprisals -- tit for tat expulsions, or something.

A couple of examples:

-- the Yvonne Fletcher murder by Libyan diplomats in London: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Fletcher

-- the Makharadze case in which Georgia removed the immunity of its diplomat in a DUI homicide case and he was convicted and jailed in Washington: http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/06/30/georgia.diplomat/

-- the trial in The Hague of the Libyans accused of perpetrating the Pan Am 103 explosion: http://hjem.get2net.dk/safsaf/features.html

Answer 2

Andy you're tops 100 % correct only correction is military attache and criminal investigators (CID ) Naval investigative service always travel armed on us bound aircraft and all luggage is screened for explosives regardless of whom the person is not opened but screened

Answer 3

As far as getting away with it, without prosecution, I believe so. They may lose their immunity status and be deported though.

Answer 4

yes, there luggage don't get search, some are even carry drugs...and get away with it...

Answer 5

They are arrested.

You look pretty HOT(-;

Answer 6

Is it any surprise, we are laughed at.

Answer 7

YES

Answer 8

hope not