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A man told an Auckland court that he was lured to a luxury hotel on the Gold Coast in a failed scheme to pressure him to withdraw a sexual assault complaint against a wealthy New Zealand businessman.
In presenting evidence by video link to Auckland High Court, the plaintiff said that two individuals posing as talent agents offered him an employment contract in 2017 if he flew back to New Zealand with them and withdrew his police report. 2016. The meeting is known as the “Gold Coast attempt,” the court was told.
He then asked for $ 700,000 to withdraw the complaint, an “absurd” amount, to test the determination of the conspirators.
“I wanted to entertain the idea and see how far these people would go to retract my statement and hide the truth,” the complainant told the jury.
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The author is the third to testify in the High Court trial of the influential businessman, who has had his name provisionally removed despite a successful legal challenge by Things and other means. He says he was assaulted by the businessman while living and working at his home in Auckland.
POOL / Supplied
Crown and defense lawyers in the case of a prominent businessman tried in Auckland High Court, charged with indecent assault and attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying. Photos: POOL.
The other two complainants at trial say they were sexually assaulted by the businessman after business meetings at his home. One of those alleged incidents took place in 2000 or 2001, another in 2008.
The businessman has denied all charges, including two of attempting to dissuade a witness, the alleged whistleblower from October 2016, through bribery and corruption and threatening future job opportunities, in an attempt to prevent him from testifying at trial.
That man says he was flown to the meeting at Palazzo Versace from his home in Australia and told that a possible contract was available if he did as the “agents” asked.
The meeting took place a month after another meeting with a well-known entertainer in Auckland, who reportedly gave him a check for $ 15,000 and told him it would be “cleared up” once his complaint was dissolved.
“I was speaking in riddles, speaking in code. I thought alright i think [name redacted] he might be trying to convince me to change my story. I felt there was some connection between the meeting … and [the businessman]. “The complainant said that he did not deposit the check.
The Gold Coast “agents” were associates of the artist. On the terrace of a suite at Palazzo Versace, the whistleblower suggested paying him $ 700,000, but said he “backfired” when told “a life is worth $ 700,000”, which he considered a death threat.
The associate later said, “That doesn’t apply to my client. It’s cheaper to hire a hit man. “
POOL / Supplied
Judge Geoffrey Venning is hearing the case in Auckland High Court.
The author said he was pressured to hand over his passport and fly to New Zealand the next day, but he refused and returned home. He then contacted a New Zealand police officer and told him what he had been told.
The court was shown a video recording of the Gold Coast meeting.
“So if he … put that on his account, would he withdraw his statement?” the associate was heard saying.
Both associates will then testify for the Crown, and have been given immunity from prosecution with their names temporarily suppressed.
Earlier Tuesday, the plaintiff gave evidence about the alleged 2016 sexual assault.
He said he was seriously ill with food poisoning when the businessman entered his bedroom.
The businessman had given him “housing support” after losing his job, and had food and meal in exchange for housework, gardening and dog walking.
The complainant said that four to five weeks after moving in, he returned home from exercising and ate a piece of pork from the refrigerator. Later in the evening he became ill and vomited repeatedly. He showered and then went to bed in a spare room instead of his own room, as the bed was more comfortable.
The businessman then told him to leave because the room was “for guests only,” but said he should go into his bedroom. Instead, the author went to his own bedroom.
Moments later, someone knocked on the door, the man said. Not answering, the businessman entered the room and lay down next to him in a “spoon” position. The businessman then touched his genitals above and below his shorts, he said, saying “let me hug you.”
The complainant told the jury that he tried to “surreptitiously” call another family member for help, but eventually got out of bed and knocked on that person’s door. When the door was opened, the complainant replied that he crouched on the ground protecting his stomach before vomiting again, he said.
They took him to the hospital, where he described the assault on two doctors. He gave a statement to the police early the next morning, on October 1.
The complainant said he had been cautious with the businessman after a previous incident at the home where the businessman “pulled down my pants” and complimented his genitals.
Questioned by David Jones QC for the defense, the complainant denied having been “warned” and asked to leave the businessman’s house before the night of the alleged assault.
The trial continues in front of Judge Geoffrey Venning.
WHERE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE CAN GET HELP
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Rape crisis – 0800 88 33 00 (will direct you to a nearby center), follow the link for information on local helplines
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Support for victims – 0800842846 (24 hour service)
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Port, support and online information for those affected by harmful sexual behavior
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Women’s shelter (For women and children) – crisis line available at 0800 733 843
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Sure talk – 0800 044 334, text message 4334 or web chat
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Male survivors Aotearoa (For men): follow the link for regional helplines
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
