Sex allegation against Worth withdrawn

The woman who laid a complaint with police against Richard Worth has withdrawn her allegation of a serious sexual nature, saying the political fallout is punishment enough and she "wants out".

Her friend, who helped her to go to the police, then to the office of National MP Tau Henare so Prime Minister John Key could be informed, last night told the Herald she was stressed, needed "time out" and no longer wanted the matter investigated.

The friend said the Auckland-based Korean businesswoman told police she wanted to withdraw the complaint yesterday.

"She is saying: 'Hey, I want out.' He [Dr Worth] has lost his place in the Parliament, and that is enough."

Police would not comment last night.

Dr Worth's lawyer, Paul Dacre, said police had not contacted them about the woman withdrawing her complaint.

Dr Worth resigned as a minister when confronted by Mr Key over the allegation last month, staving off being sacked.

He subsequently resigned from Parliament, but denied committing any crime and said "my conscience is clear".

Mr Key has refused to say what caused him to lose confidence in Dr Worth. He would not comment last night.

The woman's friend has previously told the Herald that Dr Worth invited her to Parliament, hosted her in his ministerial capacity then took her to a hotel room he had arranged for her where a sexual encounter took place.

She and Dr Worth had breakfast together in the morning before she returned to Auckland, the friend said.

The incident happened in early March but the woman did not go to police until late May.

TV3 last night reported that the email describing the woman's complaint that was sent to Mr Key described how Dr Worth and the woman were drinking, she fell asleep, and "was awoken by a naked Richard Worth".

After the Korean woman's complaint became public, Dr Worth faced a separate allegation from Labour that he bombarded another woman, Neelam Choudary, with sleazy texts.

Mrs Choudary was revealed as a party stalwart whose husband is a convicted immigration fraudster and has so far not produced any of the texts as evidence. Labour dropped the issue when Dr Worth quit as an MP.

A list MP, Dr Worth was replaced by Cam Calder, who gave his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday.

THE COMPLAINTS

ALLEGATION 1
A Korean businesswoman who complained to police about a sexual encounter in a Wellington hotel room. Her friend says she now wants to withdraw her complaint.

ALLEGATION 2
Neelam Choudary, a Labour activist, complained of receiving sleazy texts. No texts were ever produced, and Labour gave up on her complaint.