Media provides clues to the identity of Richard Worth's Korean woman

Not too long ago, the NZ Herald may well have inadvertently provided a clue as to the identity of the Korean woman who spent the night with Richard Worth and, I was told, apparently had a karaoke session with him at A Taste of Korea.

This report notes that the Korean woman was part-owner of several companies. One of these companies was put into liquidation this year, at the request of creditors who were owed $245,000 A private investigation firm had wanted to serve court documents on the woman relating to mortgage non-payment to the Bank of New Zealand for four homes, each valued at around $600,000. That's well over $2 million.

The woman was also a subject of an investigation after a run in with another man, a Korean business leader. This news was reported in a Korean newspaper at the time. The Korean newspaper also published this article on the Worth hotel liaison the same weekend as the NZ Herald article and mentioned her surname and the fact that her friend went the the police station with her to lodge a complaint, and according to this report, also went to National list MP Tau Henare so he could inform John Key. Worth subsequently resigned as a minister and then from parliament.

A check of the Companies Office records under the woman's surname as listed in the Korean article provides a record of a certain businesswoman who is part-owner in a number of companies, one of which was put into liquidation in February of this year with arrears to a number of suppliers. I was advised that this woman's business partner is apparently fairly well-known in the Indian community. His last known address is a pretty comfy place; but two, not one, of his companies were placed in liquidation - one last year as he was unable to pay a $1 million loan and an $800,000 liability. He was the sole director of the trust that held the shares in both companies.Both him and his female Korean business partner are currently running companies.

To date nobody has publicly named the woman. Neither will I. Its not in the public interest. But Richard Worth seems to get involved with some dodgy people.....

update .... like Labour activist Neelam Choudhary, who with her husband also owned companies - one of which the latter signed off as director after he got convicted, but David Farrar has covered this.

More about →

Neelam Choudary: Goff admits that Worth didn't mention see through clothing

Phil Goff is looking more and more like an idiot by the hour now we see his attempts to get political gain have backfired.

Goff claimed that Richard Worth sent text messages to Neelam Choudary regarding a transparent garment.

These texts were several invitations to go swimming, late-night texts to go out to dinner, an invitation to go on holiday in India with Dr Worth, and to wear see-through clothing.

Now Goff says Worth actually used the term ‘zardosi’. The statement tabled in Parliament that Goff relied on and no doubt approved was actually written by a Labour staff member, who listened to Mrs Choudary by phone and did not even take the statement down word for word. The statement never mentioned that Goff knew about the initial cafe meeting between Choudary and Worth, or even that it took place. It didn't mention any late nigh dinner invites nor invites to go on holiday in India. In fact she was in India for a period of time she was texted.

The statement was tabled in Parliament more than a month after John Key was informed by Goff about the texts. In other words Goff did have a bit of time to get it right.

The statement did mention a transparent garment. But no texts or phone calls were made regarding a transparent garment - the word zardosi was used. Goff has interpreted zardosi to mean a transparent garment because it sounds salacious. Zardosi is not very transparent, actually. Zar means 'gold' and dosi means 'embroidery. Garments are made of such material and are often used in bollywood films, of which Worth is a fan of. Zardosi is in fact defined as:

an intricate hand embroidery using gold, silver or multi-colored wire on a variety of fabrics. Traditional garment from India.

No wonder Goff didn't want to get that particular text out in a hurry. Did Goff ask Choudary if it was deleted? Also did Goff ask Choudary to take down her Facebook page. Here's the cache of that page. If you want to read more on this drama I'm not stopping you.

More about →

Richard Worth's Korean woman

Well now that Neelam Choudary's name is in the public domain as the Indian woman that Worth was texting, who is the Auckland Korean woman who was, shall we say, also friendly with Richard Worth?

Reports have said that she is a 45-year old Korean businesswoman who came to New Zealand in 2000, studied, and went into property development. She is a mother of three children, divorced and a prominent member of the Korean community. She is part-owner of several companies.Both her and Worth were at the Government's Commonwealth Day Observance reception in Wellington on the evening of March 9.

Some questions:
Did this mysterious Korean woman meet the Korean Ambassador on 5 March? Was Richard Worth anywhere near?

Did she attend last year's Korean Film Festival, of which the Korean ambassador is a patron?

If so, was one of the films she watched called Seducing Mr Perfect?

Does she she know the vice-chairperson of the trust that co-ordinated the film festival as well as Richard Worth does?

As a businesswoman, does she have any association with any of the businesses in the Korea New Zealand Business Council?

More about →

Richard Worth investigated for being a nuisance towards women

Well, this will give the feminists something to discuss. Richard Worth resigned as a minister last night but nobody would say why. He said he resigned for “ personal reasons”. John Key said had he not resigned he would have been sacked.

Now we find out that Key investigated an allegation that he was a “ nuisance towards women” - which Phil Goff told him about - and is currently under investigation by the police for another matter. The Herald doesn’t know what that matter is and wants the public to tell its reporter so that reporter can be the first to tell the public. It is not the only media outlet wanting to know.

We should be told - and quickly. Cam Calder could still be an MP . Worth is a list MP - but perhaps not worthy of being one.

Update Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper says it is clear from what John Key says, that it involves a woman. The complaint was made two weeks ago.

More about →