'Rape allegation a try-on for payout'
Rick Wallace, Victorian political reporter
VETERAN Labor MP Theo Theophanous has described as hurtful and devastating claims that he raped a woman, and said they were designed to establish a civil damages claim against him.
The former industry minister, who has stood aside while the claims are being investigated, proclaimed his innocence yesterday as Premier John Brumby urged police to speed up their inquiries into the woman's claim that she was raped by Mr Theophanous in his parliamentary office in 1998.
Labor insiders bemoaned the damage the scandal was causing the party. Several senior party figures have proclaimed Mr Theophanous's career finished regardless of the outcome of the investigation, but supporters said yesterday he would be vindicated and would reclaim his position.
Mr Theophanous yesterday lashed out in a statement at The Age after it published claims from his alleged victim, a woman now in her early 40s, accusing him of an assault that ruined her life and left her in need of psychiatric help.
"I was shocked to read in today's Age statements from a person accusing me of the most horrible crimes that are totally against all the moral and religious values I believe in," Mr Theophanous said.
The woman was an acquaintance of his and claims in the report that she fled to Greece after the alleged rape and a subsequent nervous breakdown.
"He raped me," she is reported as saying. "I am opening Pandora's box, but I need to get everything out."
Police have been investigating the woman's claims since she lodged a complaint in February last year.
Mr Theophanous reiterated his innocence, and predicted a proper investigation would establish he had no case to answer.
He accused the woman, who says the incident occurred when she accompanied him to parliament after a late-night drink, of speaking out as a prelude to an attempt to secure a payout.
"I am concerned that statements have been made which are clearly designed to establish a case for a civil action for damages, whether or not I am charged with any offence," Mr Theophanous said.
"Rape is a horrendous crime. To be wrongly accused of such a crime is deeply harmful to me and my family. These accusations have never been put to me before, and to be put publicly in this way places me in the most difficult position."
Mr Brumby said yesterday the claims about Mr Theophanous were "about as serious as you can get", and that he had been shocked by them. He urged police, who are expected to interview Mr Theophanous next week, to accelerate their investigation.