CHILD OF MICRONESIAN MISSION DIPLOMAT REPORTS

UNCLAS E F T O USUN NEW YORK 000457 SIPDIS FOR IO/UNP - S. EDMONDSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OFDP PREL FM SUBJECT: CHILD OF MICRONESIAN MISSION DIPLOMAT REPORTS ABUSE BY STEPMOTHER REF: 2005 USUN NEW YORK 001338 ¶1. (SBU) On May 12 Leah Jeanette Jeem (Lippwe),12 year old daughter of Micronesian Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR),Minister Jeem Lippwe, informed school officials that her stepmother, Lerina Rhayn Lippwe, on the night of May 11 pushed her against a wall, slapped her, pulled her hair, and pinched her skin causing a visible mark. The child indicated that she was afraid to return home from school. The school reported the matter as required by law to NYC's Administration for Children's Services (ACS). NYPD and ACS visited the child at school and interviewed the child and the stepmother. The stepmother admitted that she did indeed slap and pinch Leah because the child arrived home well after her curfew and she was frustrated that her stepdaughter had been misbehaving. ACS took the child to a hospital where doctors examined her. She was treated for a bruise caused by the pinching and released to ACS. The stepmother was present, cooperative and consented to the temporary removal of the child. ACS placed the child in a Children's Center under its supervision, and then the next day placed the child with her aunt and uncle. USUN confirmed the mother's diplomatic immunity to NYPD and NYC Commission for the UN, Consular Corps and Protocol. . ¶2. (SBU) New York City would have arrested the stepmother and charged her with third degree assault, but for her diplomatic immunity. Although the charge is a misdemeanor, this is not the first reported incident involving the stepmother and this child (see reftel). New York City ACS officials would like to meet with the Deputy Permrep father, who is out of country until the week of May 26. Similarly, the Micronesian Permrep is out of country until mid-June. New York City officials await their return before deciding whether to ask USUN to seek a waiver of immunity in this case. USUN will report further developments as they occur. Khalilzad