By Stephen Stirling
An Afghan diplomat was arrested and charged Friday with allegedly beating his wife repeatedly over a 15−hour period in their Flushing home earlier this month, the Queens district attorney.
Queens DA Richard Brown said 30−year−old Mohammed Fagirad of 144−34 26th Ave., assigned as a vice consul at the Afghanistan Consulate in Manhattan, was charged with second−degree assault in Queens Criminal Court Friday.
“The defendant is accused of repeatedly and savagely beating his wife over a prolonged period — at one point, even leaving their residence only to return and inflict more harm to her,” Brown said. “Such conduct has no place in a civilized society.”
Brown said if convicted, Fagirad could face up to seven years in prison.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Queens Criminal Court, Fagirad allegedly got into an argument with his wife in their home shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 11. The fight escalated, allegedly leading him to grab his 22−year−old wife by the neck and hold her against a wall before throwing her to the ground, the complaint said.
Brown said Fagirad allegedly called her a dog and battered her across the face and back for several hours, before briefly leaving the residence.
The woman used this time to go to the 109th Precinct and file a domestic violence report before returning home, the DA said. When she returned, Fagirad allegedly continued to assault his wife, took her cell phone and called police to make a counterclaim, according to the DA.
A spokesman for the DA’s office said Fagirad has limited diplomatic immunity, which only protects him from work−related infractions and which prosecutors do not believe will hinder their case.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e−mail at sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 138.
