WELLINGTON, Jul 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand’s Justice Minister, Kiri Allan, resigned today, on charges of reckless driving and resisting arrest, a week after her return to office from a break, to address her mental health issues.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. local time yesterday, Allan was involved in a car crash in Wellington. She was taken into custody and held in the Wellington Central Police Station. She was released around 1:00 a.m. Monday, according to the police.
Allan was charged with “careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer.” She also returned a breath test over the legal limit, but at a level considered an infringement offence, the police said.
“While her alleged actions are inexcusable, I’ve been advised she was experiencing extreme emotional distress at the time of the incident,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement.– NNN-XINHUA