A businessman labelled by New Zealand police as the country's triad gang boss yesterday rejected the allegations in parliament - but admitted a friend was a senior member of Hong Kong's 14K triad.
Ricky Yan Sui-ho, who emigrated to New Zealand 22 years ago, confirmed he knew local triad members including one identified Ma Man-chuen.
Mr Yan exercised his right of reply to a parliamentary select committee which had heard police labelled him as the head of a triad gang that plotted to murder a senior detective in New Zealand's Asian crime unit.
Mr Yan yesterday claimed he was a victim of 'yellow peril' allegations, threats and intimidation by the police.
He said the police had turned the committee into a 'McCarthyist witch-hunt against Asians in general and me in particular'.
But Mr Yan confirmed he knew triad members and had acted as a foster father for the son of Mr Ma, whom he had known for 20 years. He agreed Mr Ma was a senior member of the 14K triad.