Australian minister who called for massage service from Midtown hotel claims he's...

[massage]

An Australian politician’s call to a massage service from a posh Midtown hotel Aug. 29 has turned into something of a scandal down under.

Gareth Ward, 37, who represents the Kiama district south of Sydney in the New South Wales state Parliament, was on a trip partially funded by taxpayers. He was headed to a three-day conference in Nova Scotia on politicians with disabilities — that included a one-day layover in New York on Aug. 29.

Police sources said he requested a “special massage” during the one-day layover in New York.

Ward issued a statement denying that. “The claims I requested a special massage are untrue,” he said in a statement.

Aussie pol falls victim to 'special massage' scam at NYC hotel

“I requested a normal massage as people on holiday will often do. I referred these matters straight to the police and they’re now under investigation.”

Ward told the Daily Telegraph, “I mean, who doesn’t ask for a massage when they are on holiday? I know how it looks but I can assure you this is nothing short of attempted robbery.”

After he called the service, two young men came to his door, sources said. Uneasy about how things were unfolding, he told them to leave, police said.

At that point, one of the men pulled out his cell phone and started videotaping.

"My friend is 16," the visitor said, according to sources. "If you don't pay us $1,000, we're going to tell everyone we're minors."

Ward told them he would go to an ATM and get cash. They followed.

Instead, Ward, who is legally blind and has a form of albinism, went to the front desk and told a clerk what was happening.

The clerk called 911. The would-be blackmailers took off down W. 44th St.

Cops are still looking for the duo, sources said Monday.

“I asked for a massage and what was clear was that there was more on offer and when I made it clear that was not what I wanted I asked them to leave,” Ward told the Daily Telegraph.

The Australian Parliament minister dialed up the service at the $500-a-night Intercontinental Hotel on W. 44th St.

(Frank Franklin II/AP)

“They got aggressive and started filming and demanding money. So I went down to the lobby because that was the only way I could get out of my room. I was terrified, absolutely terrified.”

The Telegraph, quoting officials, said his trip cost taxpayers between $2,000 and $6,000.

Ward, however, refused to identify the service he called, the Telegraph reported Friday in an article headlined “Gareth Ward Massage Saga.”

Two New South Wales ministers told the paper anonymously that Ward should step down.

“Should he resign? Probably. Will he? Absolutely not,” the unnamed minister told the newspaper.

Another said, “I think what he said raises more questions than it answers.”

New South Wales Speaker Shelley Hancock came to his defense.

“I don’t see this as awkward,” she told the Illwarra Mercury newspaper. “The media is making it awkward. There is no reason to believe he ordered anything but an ordinary massage and what happened is pretty gruesome.”

Hancock went on to throw a dig at New York.

“You always have to be careful living and surviving in other countries,” she told the paper.

“We’re talking about New York City, where people are always trying to get your money.”

Ward’s office did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily News. The New South Wales parliament also did not respond.

Tags:
australia
midtown
new york robberies
fraud
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