An Indian woman, Ms A (name withheld), who came to New Zealand two years ago lodged a complaint with police on 19 June, alleging sexual harassment by a former partner who, she claims, is now threatening to leak their intimate videos and photos to her family.
The Police have confirmed a complaint was lodged.
In a statement to The Indian Weekender, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kylee Cusin of the Wellington Adult Sexual Assault Team said,
"Police can confirm that the victim in this matter has made a formal complaint to police. An investigating officer has not yet been assigned as matters awaiting further investigation are prioritised based on a number of factors."
"The formal interview has been completed, and regular victim contact is being maintained until such time it is assigned to an Investigator," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kylee Cusin added.
The statement further explained that the standard police procedures in these matters involve a preliminary interview, which is first completed to determine what the nature of the complaint is, followed by a request for a formal interview which once completed, initiates and frames the investigation process.
"The victim is provided access to support/health/wellbeing services from the initial contact with Police and throughout the investigation."
The investigation involves obtaining corroborating evidence to support the charge, which could mean speaking to witnesses and or collecting/analysing exhibits relative to the offending.
The suspect can also be offered an opportunity to provide an interview.
"If at the end of the investigation there is sufficient evidence to support a prosecution, charges will be considered, followed by the commencement of a Court process," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kylee Cusin added.
The woman, Ms A (name withheld), claimed that the alleged harassment had left her mentally shattered.
Ms A said she met her former partner in 2022 while working at the same workplace in India. She came to New Zealand on an Accredited Employer Work Visa in 2023, just a month after his arrival, after allegedly paying ₹16 lakh for visa processing.
“After the passing away of my former partner’s wife, we started bonding and he convinced me to shift with him to New Zealand,” she claimed.
Upon arrival, she moved in with him, his brother and sister-in-law. Although employed under the same business, she was initially posted at a different job and location. She alleged that she was soon made to “work like a slave” in the household, doing everything from bathing children to preparing meals.
“I was kept from going to work and made to sleep on mats,” she said. “He wouldn’t let me go to work because I was the only female employee.”
According to Ms A, she was forced to do domestic chores and remained silent out of fear of eviction.
“I cooperated because I thought I could fix him,” she said. “I kept thinking that he does this because he loves me.”
She claims the abuse escalated physically and emotionally, reaching a breaking point when she was allegedly slapped three times.
Ms A and her ex-partner began working together at a Wellington eatery in February 2025.
She claims that some intimate photos and videos were consensually recorded early in their relationship, but said that things changed when she tried to leave due to “physical and verbal abuse.”
“He taunted, mocked whenever he told me that he would leak my videos and photos,” she said.
“Prostitute jaa rahi hai... tereko pata hai na kya hai mere pas (Look at the prostitute walking… don’t you know what I have),” she alleges he would say, even in public.
“Despite repeated requests, he kept threatening to tell everything to my father and send him all the videos,” she said tearfully. She claimed the threats were made because he wanted to resume their relationship.
“My father is very sick. If he sees any of those videos, he will go crazy.”
In November 2023, Ms A moved out of the shared household, but claimed the harassment continued at her new residence.
“My former partner used to visit me at the new place and used to sexually harass me,” she alleged.
“I used to say no… but it was forceful.”
She claimed that further intimate photos and vidoes was taken without her consent and that he would enter her bathroom, physically abuse her, and shout at her.
With support from her employer and colleagues, Ms A lodged a formal police complaint on 19 June. She claims she reported the incidents to her workplace, leading to the former partner’s suspension the same day.
“My employer has supported me through this tough journey,” she said.
In a formal complaint submitted to her employer and an HR support provider, Ms A documented three specific instances of alleged assault: being slapped twice at the partner’s workplace in 2023; slapped again in 2024 outside his workplace in front of his landlord; and blackmailed into a physical relationship.
Ms A, who is now supported by an NGO, said she is undergoing physiotherapy for a “sprained shoulder” allegedly caused by arm twisting by the ex-partner.
“I’ve gone through a living hell,” she said. “I cannot even think of those photos and videos being leaked.”
“Mera kya reh jayega?... (What will be left of me?)” she whispered.