Maka says slave claim a shame and untrue

Finau Maka. File photo / Peter Meecham

The rugby star accused of modern day slavery in France says the claims made against him by a Tunisian migrant are fabricated.

Tonga and former New Zealand Super 14 player Finau Maka will fiercely deny the allegations, but said they had already damaged his reputation.

Speaking from his home in Toulouse yesterday, Maka said: "It's been a big disappointment. A big shame for this to happen. All of the information they have got is just not true.

"I can't wait to tell the whole world my side of the story."

Police raided Maka's home in the exclusive Toulouse neighbourhood of Beauzelle last week amid claims he had held the Tunisian in "disgraceful conditions".

French media alleged the man was being enslaved in "utter indignity" but Maka said he was confident his name would be cleared after a press conference tomorrow.

"My family and my friends, they know what kind of a person I am and I think they would be laughing when they saw this in the papers. And especially when they know what type of person the guy who accused me is."

His brother Isitolo, a former All Black who is head coach of Tonga, said Finau had allowed the Tunisian man - named Anish - to stay in his home after taking pity on him.

Isitolo, who met the Tunisian last year, said: "He was just trying to help the guy. He didn't work for Finau, he just stayed at his place. He slept in a little house out the back because he had got nowhere else to go.

"This guy just slept all day and would ask for food and Finau even gave him money. He gave him tickets to come and watch Finau play in the Heineken Cup."

Isitolo said Anish left his brother's home in January and they hadn't seen him since.

"Something happened and he left in January and never came back. And then all of a sudden the police came knocking on his door. For us to see this guy going to the police - out of nothing - is very shocking. I just don't understand." Finau is married to Elizabeth, known as Peta, and the couple have two children, Brian Jean-Louis, 8, and Justina Lourdes, 2.

Peta said it was part of their nature as Tongans to help other people in need.

She said: "We are very generous and very loving people. It's just what we Tongans are like. We were once immigrants in New Zealand and we are very caring and sharing and we don't have any reason to hurt another human being or mistreat them.

"It's very sad for our family and very embarrassing, especially when it's untrue."

She said family and friends in New Zealand had been in contact to say they did not believe any of the claims against Maka.

Maka, who came to New Zealand as a schoolboy, is the second-youngest of 10 brothers and four sisters.

He attended Sacred Heart College in Auckland before becoming a Super 14 journeyman with stints at the Hurricanes, the Blues and the Highlanders between 1997 and 2001.

Since then, the No 8, who stands at 1.91m and weighs 110kg, established himself as a blockbusting force at France's top club Toulouse.

Maka became a folk hero in the rugby-mad French city during a period when they won two Heineken Cups, the top prize in European club rugby, and reached two more finals.

He played his first test match for Tonga at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where he quickly became a crowd favourite, thanks to his enormous afro hairdo and explosive displays.

The Pacific Islanders came closer than any other team to toppling eventual champions South Africa when they were pipped 25-30 in pool play, and also beat arch-rivals Samoa.

After nine years at Toulouse, Finau is looking for a new club and is keen to push for a place in the Tongan Sea Eagles at the World Cup next year.