inappropriate and vulgar telephone calls included asking her to buy transparent garments, and that his conduct was unacceptable and unwanted. Neelam Choudary herself faced scrutiny when it was later revealed that her husband, Kumar Akkineni Choudary, had been convicted the year before for his role in an immigration scam. Worth declared that he was innocent of any crime. Prime Minister Key reiterated that there was no future for Worth within his Cabinet, and warned that suspension or expulsion from the National caucus was still a prospect. Worth resigned from Parliament on 12 June 2009 (effective 16 June 2009), citing that his role as a Member of Parliament was compromised due to "the avalanche of rumour and innuendo," and he wished to seek a new direction in international trade. After Worth's parliamentary resignation, Cam Calder took his place as the next eligible person on the current New Zealand National Party list. In early July 2009 it was reported that the woman who made the original allegation to police had withdrawn her complaint and police dropped the matter. In November 2009, police announced that Worth would not face charges. As of July 2009, Choudary had not made the text exchanges public, though she sent copies of 34 texts from Worth, and her phone logs, to Key. Labour did not pursue the matter further. It was never publicly announced what caused Key to lose confidence in Worth and require his resignation. Post-parliamentary career In October 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced that Worth had been reappointed honorary consul to Monaco, a role he had held before entering Parliament. Monaco had appointed him to the role at least a year prior, but Foreign Minister Murray McCully sought legal advice on whether he could refuse the application and held up the appointment until approving it in October 2010. As of April 2020, Worth still held the role which has seen him attend the wedding of Prince Albert II to Charlene Wittstock. Worth died on 10 May 2022. Notes References External links Navy Biography Official page on the New Zealand Parliament website The closer economic relationship between Australia and New Zealand: choices other than quiescence or withdrawal in the face of conflict 2004, Ph.D. thesis, Richard W. Worth.5 1948 births 2022 deaths Massey University alumni New Zealand National Party MPs New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Auckland