Keep Your Head Down Dover Says Clark

Prime Minister Helen Clark has categorically denied knowledge of new rape allegations made against former Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels, after Mr Samuels blamed her office for leaking the claims.

Dumped cabinet minister Dover Samuels confirmed yesterday the sex allegations against him, regarding an affair with a teenage women in the mid 1980s, included four claims of rape.

While, Mr Samuels earlier admitted to the relationship with the young woman, he has dismissed all charges, including the new allegations, as “fabrications.”

Police have twice interviewed Mr Samuels over his involvement with the woman, a teenager at the time. The relationship ended after she had an abortion.

This morning Mr Samuels said while he was not sure who was behind leaking the new allegations, some media told him they learned of the claims through the Prime Minister’s office.

Mr Samuels said he believed the Prime Minister’s staff told media of the allegations in response to journalists inquiries as to why the police report into the allegations was taking so long to be made public.

In response the Prime Minister has denied knowing of the latest allegations until they were made confirmed yesterday by Police Commissioner Rob Robinson. She has also denied the involvement of either her or her staff in leaking the details.

She said Mr Samuels' "carry-on" was not helpful to the Labour party and he should put his head down while the investigation was under way.

Allegations about the relationship were contained in a letter from ACT leader Richard Prebble to Prime Minister Helen Clark last month. The contents of the letter have never been made public, but were handed to the police.

Helen Clark sacked Mr Samuels a week after the police inquiry began, saying she no longer had confidence in him.

Mr Samuels has promised to resign from his Te Tai Tokerau seat if he is found guilty of any criminal charges.

Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Parekura Horomia is expected to be appointed the new Minister of Maori Affairs at Labour's weekly caucus meeting tomorrow morning.

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