Wellington - A disgraced New Zealand government minister
made 'vulgar and sexually explicit' telephone calls to a woman,
parliament was told Thursday, one day after Richard Worth resigned as
police revealed an investigation was being conducted in a separate
case against him.
As the woman's statement was read in the House of Representatives,
Worth, who resigned as minister of internal affairs, issued a
statement insisting he had not committed any crime.
Details about the two women involved emerged Thursday as Worth, a
former lawyer and member of parliament for 10 years, went into hiding
after his resignation, citing 'personal reasons.'
A silence-breaking statement from the married father of an adult
daughter was issued by a public relations company and insisted he was
innocent.
'There has been a rush to judgement on the basis of rumour and
speculation which has been damaging to my political career and
hurtful for my family and friends,' it said.
The initial police complaint is believed to have been laid by a
Korean businesswoman, and Police Minister Judith Collins confirmed
that the allegation was 'of a sexual nature.'
The other woman's statement was read to parliament by Phil Goff,
leader of the opposition Labour Party, who revealed that she had told
Prime Minister John Key a month ago about her experiences with the
minister.
The woman, who is married with two children, said she did not want
publicity but was speaking out because Key had claimed earlier that
there was no evidence of Worth's inappropriate behaviour and 'my
membership of the Labour Party somehow lessened my credibility.'
She said that after meeting Worth for the first time in November,
he had sent her about 40 text messages, some ending with 'xxx' and
made more than 60 telephone calls offering her jobs.
'Several of the phone calls made by Dr Worth to me were vulgar,
sexually explicit, and I believe were made when he was drunk,' she
said. 'On one occasion, he asked me if I prayed for something to
happen to my husband so we could be together.'
The woman said his advances were unwanted and she repeatedly made
it clear she did not want a relationship with him.
Key said Wednesday that he would have sacked Worth if he had not
resigned because his conduct 'did not befit a minister.'
He said Worth had been given two week's leave from parliament to
consider whether he should remain a member of the House of
Representatives.
Worth's statement said, 'There is a well-known principle in New
Zealand that a person is presumed innocent until they have been
proved guilty.
'At the moment, I have not even been charged with any criminal
offence, let alone had the opportunity to defend myself.'
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