New Zealand Indian store owner contests racism charge

Wellington, June 7
An Indian-origin liquor store owner in New Zealand has appealed against a court judgment favouring a former Indian employee claiming racial harassment, media reported on Sunday.

Owner of Scorpion Liquor, Raj Devi and her son Shane Singh, who were ordered to pay employee Satnam Singh NZ$45,000 ($31,708) in damages for suffering racial abuse, have appealed to the high court saying they were not given a chance to contest the claims, reported the New Zealand Herald.

Satnam said he suffered racial abuse, culminating in physical assault, while he worked for two months at the store in Auckland's Mt. Roskill area.

Devi and Shane Singh, who managed the business, say the claims made by Satnam Singh are "wholly wrong".

They also claimed they were not served any notice of the proceedings and were not aware of the hearing date that took place in March.

The March findings of the tribunal have been set aside pending the appeal.