Former National MP suspect in bank assault

Westpac. Photo / Supplied

A former National MP allegedly punched another customer in the face as shocked tellers looked on at an inner-city Wellington bank after an argument over a parking space.

Wellington police yesterday confirmed receiving a complaint from a man alleging he had been assaulted by another man on Monday last week in Courtenay Place. They said the incident was still under investigation.

Westpac spokesman Chris Mirams said there was an incident in the bank's Courtenay Place branch that day and said Westpac was co-operating with the police.

The Herald has spoken to the victim of the alleged assault who said the incident arose from a disputed car park outside the bank.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said he had parked his car in a space outside the bank which another motorist had been intending to use. Words were exchanged, and while he was retrieving items from his car the other motorist, who had by that stage parked his vehicle elsewhere, tried to shut the car door on his legs.

Although "it didn't really hurt at all", the man said they exchanged further words when both were in the bank a few moments later.

However once the motorist completed his transaction "he just turned around and gave me a good old whack ... a swinging right arm across the face", the man said.

"I was just taken aback that anyone would do that in a bank."

Having noted the plate number of the motorist's vehicle, the man later laid a complaint with the police.

Police told him the vehicle was registered to the former National MP. The man, who was not previously familiar with the former MP, identified him as the alleged attacker from a photograph.

The former MP did not return the Herald's calls or messages this week and was not at home when the Herald visited his house.