New Zealand's statement on Joop expected today

New Zealand's statement on Joop expected today

WELLINGTON (AFP): New Zealand's foreign minister, Don McKinnon, is to issue a statement today on allegations an Indonesian cabinet minister indecently assaulted a hotel employee in Auckland, the New Zealand Press Association reported yesterday.

The hotel employee, a young man, reportedly told police he was indecently assaulted by the Indonesian minister when he was called to a room in the hotel.

McKinnon received a report on the incident when he returned from an overseas trip at the weekend.

NZPA reported a spokesman for McKinnon as saying the minister was likely to issue a statement today. The report is to be discussed at a routine cabinet meeting this morning.

Indonesian Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Minister Joop Ave on Saturday denied having molested the employee, calling the incident a "misunderstanding" following allegations in the New Zealand media naming him as the minister.

Ave left Auckland by private jet following the alleged incident, failing to attend an international tourism conference in the city.

He said that the hotel's general manager informed him that the waiter had filed a complaint saying he had been molested and had gone to the police as well as the press.

"I responded that there must be a misunderstanding and that it was not true," Ave said. He also said that he later called Jakarta to report on the "unfortunate and wholly unexpected turn of events" and received instructions to return home as soon as possible.