Editorial: To be fair, let justice run its course in Worth case

Opinion

There is something unfair when a woman can lay a complaint, survey the fallout and then decide she wants out. So it is in the case of the Auckland-based Korean businesswoman who has withdrawn an allegation of a serious sexual nature against Richard Worth, having seen the former Minister of Internal Affairs first resign his portfolios and then quit Parliament. The woman says this is punishment enough and she now wants time out.

Usually, this would mean matters were left to hang unsatisfactorily in the air. The police are accustomed to this in cases of domestic violence when the complainant withdraws an allegation. But there is good cause for them to pursue their investigation when an incident has prompted such serious repercussions. Fortunately, that seems to be happening in Dr Worth's case. "Police will need to assess all the information we have to bring the file to a state of finality," a Wellington police spokeswoman said.

The police were careful to refute any suggestion that they had suggested the woman withdraw her complaint because of a lack of evidence. But in all probability their investigation will not result in charges. Nor has a second allegation against Dr Worth, from Labour activist Neelam Choudary, come to anything. Labour dropped this when Dr Worth resigned as an MP. Nothing had been produced to back Mrs Choudary's complaint of receiving sleazy texts from him.

Dr Worth has denied breaking any law. The Prime Minister decided, however, that he could not so easily exonerate him of a standard of behaviour that reflected badly on Dr Worth and fell below that expected of a minister. This standard is clearly higher than that dictated by criminal law. Be that as it may, the justice system should run its course. In the interests of fairness, there should be finality.