Assault claims against Kiribati man

AUCKLAND – New Zealand media has reported “startling allegations of sexual assault” have been made against Ioane Teitiota, who was deported back to Kiribati this week.

Claims have been made against Teitiota by a former employer saying he sexually assaulted a female co-worker and violently assaulted other colleagues before being fired from a west Auckland market garden.

Frank Argent, owner of Barefoot Gardens, said the Kiribati man “has a dark underbelly that most people have never seen”.

He says in October last year a female worker complained about Teitiota, and a month later another female worker alleged he bailed her up in a shed, came onto her and sexually assaulted her.

He was fired and police were informed, but the case did not proceed due to lack of evidence.

Teitiota was warned about his actions.

Other workers then came forward with more claims of violence against Teitiota.

“They filed affidavits stating one of them was threatened to have his throat cut,” Argent says.

“The other had been hit by a spade and another said he had been falsifying his time sheets.”

Associate Immigration Minister Craig Foss wouldn’t be drawn about what he knew about the alleged incidents.

Labour’s Phil Twyford was blindsided by the revelations.

“I don’t have any information of that nature. That’s certainly not the information that I’ve been advised in this case.

Twyford said the claims were unsubstantiated and made against a man who could not defend himself.