Diplomatic Immunity May Get Russian Official Out of Rental Repair Bill

After he allegedly drove a rental car into a river, a Russian diplomat has claimed immunity after a court declared him bankrupt for refusing to pay an almost $10,000 car repair bill on the car, according to the New Zealand Herald.

The bankruptcy resulted from the unpaid bill of Russian Embassy first secretary Valery Martynov to Hertz New Zealand. The bankruptcy was thrown out after the High Court at Wellington discovered Martynov's right to diplomatic immunity, The Dominion Post reported.

The bill of nearly $10,000 came after Martynov called the rental car company, saying the Ford Focus he rented from the company last year was "leaking and had failed."

A mechanic later found the damage was consistent with the car being driven through a river.

Martynov did not pay the bill. The Disputes Tribunal later found he caused the damage to the car by driving off road.