Disgraced New Zealand politician quits Parliament

Jun 12, 2009, 6:08 GMT

   Wellington - Disgraced New Zealand politician Richard Worth, who resigned as a government minister nearly two weeks ago as police opened an investigation into a woman's complaint about an unwanted sexual encounter, announced Friday that he was quitting Parliament.

   He said that leaving after 10 years as a lawmaker was in the best interests of his conservative National Party.

   Worth, a lawyer and married with an adult daughter, said, 'I wish only to restate that I have not committed any crime, and I remain confident that when the true facts are established I will be cleared of any and all allegations of criminal conduct.'

   Prime Minister John Key, who said earlier that he would have sacked Worth had he not resigned as minister of internal affairs, said his resignation from Parliament was 'a sensible course of action in the circumstances.'

   Worth was elected on his party's list in the November polls and will be replaced by the next person listed, Cam Calder. No by-election will be necessary.

   Police are still investigating the complaint from a Korean businesswoman that Worth took her to a Wellington hotel for an unwanted 'sexual encounter.'

   Another woman, who is a member of the opposition Labour Party, has claimed that Worth harassed her with over 100 text messages and telephone calls, including some that were sexually explicit, in pursuit of a relationship she did not want.