Sex complaint a set-up, says trade adviser

By Keith Perry

The Papua New Guinea delegate sent home early from Apec after a hotel worker complained that he sexually harassed her claims he was set up by his own Government.

Franzalbert Joku, an adviser to PNG's Trade and Industry Minister, Michael Nali, strenuously denied making an improper suggestion to a hotel worker in his room at Auckland's City Life Hotel.

The woman was said to be "extremely upset" after a conversation with Mr Joku.

But Mr Joku says bitter political rivalry was behind the allegation.

He claimed he was just being friendly to the woman, and said they merely chatted about her family, where she was from and "life in general."

Mr Joku blamed "stirrers" in his Government for trying to blacken his name.

But last night, an Auckland press attache assigned to PNG's Apec delegation insisted that Mr Joku's behaviour had been unacceptable.

"He made the woman very uncomfortable during the conversation," the attache said.

"There's no question of cultural differences. The conversation would not have been acceptable in New Zealand or in Papua New Guinea.

"The matter was investigated fully by Apec officials, and he left New Zealand as a result."

But Mr Joku angrily denied acting improperly, saying: "I believe this whole incident prompting my early departure is the work of certain persons in my Government with vested interests.

"There's a lot of rivalry between the Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs Departments and I think that could be at the heart of these claims.

"I simply had a normal social conversation with this woman. If she felt uncomfortable, I can't help that.

"Nothing of a sexual nature was discussed. The door was open during the conversation, and another colleague joined me for part of it.

"The woman did not seem unhappy when she left us."

Mr Joku said he volunteered to leave New Zealand after being "advised to do so" by his ministers. He claimed he did not remain to defend himself because he did not want the matter to interfere with his Government's Apec business.

The PNG Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Leonard Louma, last night appeared to distance his Government from the incident or the employee concerned.

He denied that Mr Joku was a member of PNG's diplomatic service, adding that the incident was not a good reflection on the country.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's office said Mr Joku would be questioned about the incident when all the delegates returned to Port Moresby before any decision was made about his future career.

A local newspaper, the Post Courier, said Mr Joku at first denied he was the official forced to return home early, but then issued a statement changing his story.