NEW YORK, May 30: A Pakistani sailor who was arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting a teenaged girl in Central Park, New York, was released on a $ 1,000 bond posted by Pakistan embassy, an embassy official told Dawn on Monday. Deputy Chief of Pakistan Embassy, Mohammed Sadik, said: “We have an option to take him to Pakistan and prosecute him there, or allow him to stay here and go through the due process here.”

Mr Sadik said: “We will cooperate with the US authorities here, but we have to make that decision soon.”

Nadeem Ahmed, who arrived here on Pakistan’s naval ship Tipu Sultan last Wednesday, was reported missing —absent without leave — by the Pakistan navy.

He was found languishing at the Central Park Precinct station house at 72nd Street for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Massachusetts high-school student around 6pm on Thursday, the New York police said.

“They were talking in the park, he grabbed her, and kissed her,” a police official said. “She struggled away and got help.” Mr Ahmed was in the city for Fleet Week celebrations.