Police prioritised sportsman's career over sexual assault complainant
New Zealand police have reopened a sexual assault investigation after an internal review found the original inquiry was flawed and prioritized the suspect's sporting career over the complainant. The officer who led the initial investigation is now under scrutiny.
Why it matters
The case raises serious questions about institutional bias and the handling of sexual assault allegations involving high-profile individuals.
A police sexual assault investigation into a young man with a "promising" sporting career was so flawed that the case has been re-opened, with the officer in charge of the case also under investigation, RNZ can reveal. An internal police review has found an investigation by former Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Folau was "poor", that the complainant was "not listened to and not believed" and that the young man's sporting career was "prioritised over [the complainant] and any offending against her". The review also said that based on its review of the original investigation the sportsman did not have a defence and was culpable of sexual conduct with a person under 16 years old. The sportsman has been granted an injunction after he was approached by RNZ. The injunction means RNZ is not able to report his identity.
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