Latest news with #inappropriatebehavior
RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Police seized work and personal phones of press secretary Michael Forbes while investigating complaints
Photo: LinkedIn/Michael Forbes Police say any new information regarding the Prime Minister's former deputy chief press secretary will be "thoroughly considered". Stuff reports that Michael Forbes, a former journalist, allegedly recorded audio of multiple sessions with Wellington sex workers, and amassed a gallery of women working out at the gym, shopping, and being filmed through a window getting ready to go out. Wellington District Manager Criminal Investigations Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel said in a statement to RNZ on Thursday evening that police received a report from the manager of a Wellington brothel on July 12 2024 , relating to audio recordings of sex workers. Police obtained a search warrant on July 13 to seize two phones for examination - one personal and one work device. "On examining the phones, Police also found a number of photos and video of women in public spaces, and what appears to be women in private addresses, taken from a distance away. "Police considered the available evidence and concluded it did not meet the requirements for criminality, and therefore charges could not be filed. "The individual concerned voluntarily spoke with Police and admitted to taking the images and recordings. He was reminded of the inappropriateness of his behaviour and encouraged to seek help." Forbes also deleted the images in the presence of Police. "Police acknowledge this man's behaviour was extremely distressing for the women involved and would like to reassure them that any new information will be thoroughly considered. "Based on the initial report and available evidence to date, Police are unable to progress the matter further." One of the sex workers who was allegedly recorded, Zara (not her real name) and another sex worker Fern (not her real name) released a joint statement to RNZ on Thursday. "The law urgently needs to catch up with the digital age. Covertly recording intimate encounters without consent is a form of sexual violence, yet current legislation fails to adequately protect victims - especially sex workers and those who identify as women. "We should be safe in public without images being captured of our bodies unbeknownst to us. Power imbalances across the board leave the potential for us to exploited, unheard, and unprotected. It's time for real legal reform that centres consent, safety, and accountability had allegedly recorded audio of a session with a sex worker." It comes after the madam of the brothel where Forbes allegedly recorded audio of a sex worker, told RNZ she wants something to be done about privacy laws when it comes to recording people without their knowledge. "This is an issue for all women, women are being recorded, photographed, filmed without their consent or knowledge and heaven only knows where it's ending up. This is the main issue and that's what needs to be focused on." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's deputy chief press secretary Michael Forbes (left) during a trip to India. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The Deparment of Internal Affairs said all Ministerial Services staff are subject to standard pre-employment checks when they are first employed. These checks include reference checks, serious misconduct checks and a criminal conviciton check. In addition, security clearances are required for some positions in Minister's offices. The department says these checks were completed when Michael Forbes was first employed by Ministerial Services and were not required for the later temporary assignment to the Prime Minister's office. "We acknowledge staff may be unsettled or feel their safety may have been compromised. We are committed to supporting our people and ensuring they feel, and are, safe at work." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the incidents, that were investigated by police but didn't lead to any charges, occurred after he was vetted to work for Social Development Minister Louise Upston. "He has an obligation to actually declare those issues or those incidents to us, that didn't happen which is why his employment would have been terminated obviously. "But there is a good question about making sure, and I have asked specifically for DIA (The Department of Internal Affairs) to look at vetting processes," Luxon said in a media conference at Parliament on Thursday morning. He added that the expectation was on Forbes to have raised the incidents with the Prime Minister's office "because it impacts the office and the reputation of the office, for obvious reasons, but that didn't happen". Luxon said DIA had kicked off a "deep dive into seeing what further actions are needed to actually strengthen our processes." Forbes moved from Upston's office to the Prime Minister's in February this year and "had the vetting that he needed to come into the Beehive". "We will look at that to make sure that there's anything else we could have done differently in that vetting." The Prime Minister wouldn't discuss what level of security clearance Forbes had in the Beehive. Luxon also had questions about whether the investigation should have been elevated by police to the Beehive. 'We have to take this incident and understand what has happened here and how it happened, and what more can we do about it. "I think it's a legitimate question to say what can we look at between the inter-agency processes, between the different agencies, whether it's police, whether it's the SIS or whether it's ministerial services." The Prime Minister was open to looking at privacy laws after a call for a law change by the madam of the brothel at the centre of the accusations against Forbes. "I'm open to looking at our settings, again as we go through this experience, we have a series of laws whether it's the harmful digital bill, whether it's the privacy laws, or now new stalking laws, but we're open to looking at that further as well." "I think many Kiwis will be incredibly concerned with this issue, as I am too." Luxon said he spoke to a number of women on Wednesday who work closely with Forbes and he said "understandably there's anger, it's distressing". Prime Minister Christopher Luxon takes questions at the Beehive after the resignation of press secretary Michael Forbes. Photo: Luxon said he understood it was a private phone, not a government issued one, that was used to capture the recordings and photos. Police commissioner Richard Chambers said he was first made aware of the issue late on Tuesday afternoon after a media inquiry. "I immediately contacted the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently informed the Police Minister under the no-surprises practise." It was raised with the police executive in July 2024, during the investigation into the complaint. It was not brought to the attention of Ministers or Ministerial Services at the time. "It is up to the commissioner of the day (Andrew Coster) to decide what to elevate by way of the no surprises convention. "Those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. It would be wrong for me to comment on decisions made by the then-executive because I do not know the information they were based on, or the reasons for those decisions. "In situations such as this, it should also be considered whether there is an obligation on an individual to raise any issues that might be relevant to their employment with their employer or prospective employer," he said. "Decisions around the handling of the investigation and questions about whether it should be re-visited are for Wellington District police to consider. I have absolute faith in them to do that." In a press conference, Chambers also said there would be different circumstances or reasons as to why a matter may or may not be elevated. "It is not the failure of my organisation at all. I think there are a number of responsibilities here on individuals to alert matters which they should understand could be problematic, in terms of prospective employment." Chamber's predecessor as Commissioner, Andrew Coster, said he had only learned of the investigation into Forbes through media reports. "I learned of this situation through the media in the last 24 hours. As I no longer have access to information about Police's processes I am unable to comment further," Coster said. That statement was put to Chambers, who said executive members know their responsibilities. "It is important that police executive members alert their Commissioner to matters that may need consideration." The madam of the Wellington brothel, which RNZ has agreed to not name, said she was at the brothel when a sex worker came out of a room and alleged Forbes was recording audio and showed her his phone. The madam went into the room while Forbes was in the shower and confronted him. "I said you were recording, have you done this before and he said 'uhuh'. I said you need to give me your pin number. "I went through his phone and I instantly found recordings that were named." She said she told Forbes she needed to keep his phone and he left. She then gave the phone to police. The madam alleged Forbes had "many recordings on his phone of sex workers". She knew of some of the women who had been recorded. "Those who needed to know found out they had been recorded," she says. The women were shocked, she said. It had been a "balancing act" for the women involved. "It's really tricky for sex workers to do things, sometimes because shit can come down on them. In a boys club like the one Michael Forbes is in who knows what the fallout could be. We are decriminalised, it's a legal business, there's a lot of discrimination against us, insurance companies banks and that." The women who had seen Forbes said he appeared "relatively respectful," the madam said. Forbes has offered an apology for the harm his actions caused to women. "I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the women I have harmed," he said in a statement. "In the past, I was in a downward spiral due to unresolved trauma and stress, and when confronted with the impacts of my behaviour a year ago, I sought professional help, which is something I wish I had done much earlier. "What I failed to do then was make a genuine attempt to apologise. Instead, I tried to move on without offering those I had harmed the acknowledgement, accountability, or amends they deserved. I recognise how wrong that was." Forbes said he spent the past year "reflecting on how I may have affected these women's sense of safety and ability to go about their lives and work". "No one should ever feel violated, unsafe, or disrespected, especially in spaces where they should feel secure, and I am truly sorry for contributing to an environment where women may have felt otherwise," he said. "The therapy I've received over the past year has helped me to understand the roots of my behaviour and begin addressing the patterns that led to it. This is a long-term commitment to change that I take very seriously. "I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do." RNZ asked Forbes on Wednesday evening if there was anything in the reporting he disputed or disagreed with. He replied "not really". But believed it was likely some of the photos were consensual ones of his partner. Asked for comment on Thursday morning about the comments from the madam of the brothel. He declined to comment further. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Sky News
29-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Fife school support worker who boasted of 'selling vapes to 11-year-olds' struck off
A support worker who sent inappropriate messages to children on Snapchat and found herself in the dock for buying a vape for a 12-year-old has been struck off. Gillian Sorbie has been reprimanded by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for using "abusive and threatening" language when messaging a 12-year-old girl and for offering to buy nicotine vapes for another schoolgirl and her friends. Sorbie's bad behaviour occurred while employed as a pupil support officer with Fife Council at a Glenrothes primary school and while registered as a support worker in a children's day care service Between 7 and 9 March 2023, she sent a raft of Snapchat messages to a 12-year-old girl. Many were littered with swear words, with other messages saying "love you too, s**gbag", "just you wait till tomorrow, stupid fat wh**e", and "try not to kill yourself while I'm gone". Between 1 September and 2 October 2023, she then sent messages to a second 12-year-old girl. Sorbie offered to buy a vape for the child, asking: "Any particular type or flavour you want?" She also offered to buy vapes for the girl's friends, and in one message sent an image of the electronic devices with the caption: "Vapes £13 each or two for £20. 4,000 puffs each. Amazing value. DM me if you want any." During one handover, Sorbie advised the girl to give the money to one person, who would then jump in her car for the delivery and "dish them out" after she was gone. Sorbie said it would have to "be subtle", adding: "Got to be kept quiet, though. I can't have folk (people) knowing I'm selling vapes to 11-year-olds lol." She later messaged: "I trust you gals not to rat me out." Sorbie, however, later found herself in the dock and was last September convicted at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court of selling a nicotine vape to a 12-year-old. Ruling Sorbie's fitness to practise impaired, the SSSC has this month issued a removal order to strike her name from the watchdog's children and young people's workforce register - which effectively bans her from working in the industry. The SSSC said Sorbie provided two former pupils of the primary school where you worked with her contact details and then "repeatedly contacted them both on a social media messaging application". It said her actions were "further aggravated" by the "abusive" content of the messages. "You offered to sell nicotine vape devices to a child. This is an abuse of the trust placed in you by your employer and the parents of the children you were entrusted to care for," it added. The watchdog said Sorbie's misconduct "risked damaging the mental and emotional health" of the girls, adding: "Your actions also risked causing a child physical and emotional harm as that child could become addicted to nicotine." The SSSC said Sorbie attempted to delete messages as a parent of one of the children was trying to save them in an "attempt to conceal" her wrongdoing. The watchdog said Sorbie had offered "no insight or apology" for her behaviour, and her engagement with its investigation had been "limited". The SSSC added: "We did not consider there were any factors in your favour." In conclusion, the watchdog said a removal order was the "most appropriate sanction" to maintain the "continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession". The removal order came into effect on Saturday. Sharon McKenzie, head of HR at Fife Council, said: "As a responsible employer, we don't discuss the individual circumstances of any current or former employees."
LBCI
22-05-2025
- LBCI
Child protection concerns: Investigation launched after reported sexual assault during school trip
Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi What was meant to be a joyful school outing for children turned into a distressing experience. A 16-year-old boy who was working at an amusement park admitted to inappropriate behavior involving at least 15 children, according to his own statement. The incident occurred on Tuesday, May 20, during a field trip organized by Saint Coeur Ain Najm School for first-grade students, all between the ages of 6 and 7. The visit took place at VeréBleu Park and specifically at the zip line section, where children were supposed to enjoy a fun and exciting activity. One of the staff members assigned to help secure children for the ride—a minor himself—allegedly acted inappropriately by touching several of them while assisting them with the equipment. One child, only six years old, found the courage to tell his teacher what had happened. As school staff looked into the situation, more students reported similar experiences involving the same individual. The school administration took swift action, informing authorities who quickly intervened. The suspect was taken into custody and admitted to the actions. The school also began working closely with parents and professionals to offer psychological and educational support to the affected children. Though this is not the first such incident, it has once again raised questions about the need for stronger child protection measures and more rigorous screening and training of staff at places catering to young children.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Sickening questions a creepy doctor asked his female patient before he was disqualified from practicing
A Sydney doctor has been barred from seeing patients for three years after he asked a female patient about her sexual history and touched her inappropriately. A woman visited Dr Mohanadas Balasingham's general practice in Merrylands on September 5, 2020, after she missed a period and had stomach cramps. The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) heard last month that the former GP asked the patient inappropriate questions about her sexual history. This included the number of sexual partners she had been with as well as when she had first become sexually active. When she answered that she was active from the age of 15 and before being married, he reportedly smiled and said: 'So you used to go to school and do it on the way and your parents didn't know about it.' Dr Balasingham also reportedly asked the woman: 'How many boyfriends were Nepalese and how many are Australian?' The tribunal also heard the former GP performed a vaginal examination on the patient but did not obtain informed consent, or offer her a chaperone. Dr Balasingham reportedly digitally penetrated the woman and touched her for five to six seconds after her pregnancy test came back negative. The tribunal heard Dr Balasingham was trying to determine if the woman had an ectopic pregnancy, but that he should have instructed her to present at an emergency department instead of performing the vaginal examination. The woman said the exam did not feel 'normal or appropriate'. She left the medical practice with her partner and was crying by the time she reached the car. She made a complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) two days later which was heard by NCAT in 2023. During the case, it was also alleged that Dr Balasingham failed to appropriately monitor another patient's anti-depressant medication between 2019 and 2021. Dr Balasingham was found guilty of both unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct on November 28, 2023. The former GP has denied the conduct alleged during the tribunal. Daily Mail Australia has contacted his lawyers for comment. Dr Balasingham filed an application when he stopped work which sought 'AUD $20million as compensation'. In the document, he alleged the tribunal were biased, the HCCC had fabricated allegations and that the woman had falsified allegations to extort money from him. The former GP was first registered as a medical practitioner in India in 1987 and then registered in NSW in 2001. He started work at Woodville Road Medical and Dental Centre in April 2019 but his registration was suspended on March 2021. The doctor was then permitted to return to practice with conditions on his registration in April 2022. Dr Balasingham stopped working in August 2024, allowing his registration to lapse and sold his practice in December. Last month, the tribunal imposed protective orders on the former GP, barring Dr Balasingham from being registered for three years.
