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BEJON HASWELL / Things
Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon in Timaru on July 8, 2020, 12 days before his resignation.
Former Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon will not be charged with sending unsolicited images.
Police have confirmed that they have “completed a comprehensive investigation into the complaints made by the leader of the National Party in July 2020, and by the initial complainant, related to the sending of unsolicited images.”
“While we acknowledge that the material sent was distressing to those who received the images, the investigation found that the actions did not meet the criminal threshold necessary to support a prosecution, and no criminal charges will be filed.
“Today we have informed the complainants of the result of our investigation,” the police statement said.
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* Police launch an investigation into former national MP Andrew Falloon after allegations he sent explicit messages to young women.
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Falloon resigned as a deputy after allegations that he sent inappropriate unsolicited messages to several women.
In a statement issued to StuffFalloon said that “as I pointed out in my resignation statement, I have made a series of mistakes and I again apologize to those affected. I deeply regret the damage it has caused.
Falloon said that since resigning he had been receiving extensive counseling following a suicide attempt.
“Clearing my name of any alleged crime has been a secondary consideration for my own mental health, yet I fully complied with a request from the police to meet with them in September,” he said.
“Following a tip and subsequent search, I have provided the police with evidence that my Facebook account has been compromised with my password ‘by appearing in a data breach. Since then, I have added additional levels of security, including two-factor authentication.
“I am awaiting legal advice in relation to the filing of a criminal complaint against a person identified through Facebook.”
Falloon said it would not comment further on the matter.
WHERE TO GET HELP
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Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
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In a life-threatening situation, call 111.
