CFMEU boss John Setka accused of sexual assault in Melbourne
Powerful union boss questioned over sexual assault after his estranged wife allegedly plotted to have him killed
- Victorian trade union boss charged with sexual assault
- John Setka ‘categorically’ denies the allegations
- His estranged wife is accused of trying to kill him
- Emma Walters said she was a victim of violence
One of Australia’s most powerful trade union leaders has been questioned by police over an alleged sexual assault.
John Setka ‘categorically’ denies the allegations relating to an alleged incident that took place in Melbourne’s West Footscray in March this year, saying he is working with police to clear his name.
The bomb allegation comes after his estranged wife Emma Walters was charged with conspiracy to assassinate the Victorian Secretary of the Building, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.
She was charged with incitement to commit murder in March after it was alleged she asked a private investigator to help her obtain a gun to kill her husband.
Setka has vehemently denied the sexual assault allegations, calling them “disgusting.”
John Setka ‘categorically’ denies allegations relating to an alleged incident that took place in Melbourne’s West Footscray in March this year, saying he is working with police to clear his name
“I strongly deny this,” he said. “There was no assault. It’s rubbish, and the sad thing is that people have to stoop to this level to make accusations like that,” he told The age.
“I welcome any investigation that will exonerate me, it is an absolute fabrication, an absolute lie.”
The union man agreed to provide a DNA sample to police and said he is willing to take a lie detector test.
Victorian police said it is alleged that a 58-year-old Footscray man sexually assaulted a woman in a residence at 3am on March 1 this year.
Officers said Setka has been released while the investigation is ongoing.
Walters previously accused Setka of sexually assaulting her on March 1, claiming she was a “traumatized woman” who had been abused for years.
She also denies trying to get hold of a firearm to kill her husband during a meeting with private detective Adrian Peeters.
Mr Peeters visited Walters’ home in March to discuss his debugging services with her, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard this month.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Daniel Ramirez told the court that Walters told the detective, “I want you to get me a piece and I have to kill my children’s father.”
The bombshell accusation comes after his estranged wife Emma Walters was charged with conspiracy to assassinate the Victorian secretary of the Building, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (pictured)
Mr Peeters claimed that Walters told him she wanted to lure Setka in and trap him where it would appear she was acting in self-defence.
She allegedly told him she knew how to “use” it and was willing to go through the courts.
But Walters told 7News at the time that she feared for her safety when she met Mr Peeters because she did not want to be sexually assaulted again by her husband.
She has said she will plead not guilty to the charges.
The divorced couple have had a bitter legal stoush over Setka’s alleged acts of violence and alleged violations of intervention orders.
Walters is also suing the police for failing to protect her after she claimed that Setka had continued domestic violence.
She claimed in her Supreme Court summons that she had four separate intervention orders to protect her – claiming she was the victim of “numerous” alleged violent incidents involving Setka.
But Setka denies the domestic violence allegations – although he was convicted in 2019 of harassing his wife and violating orders.
They got back together afterwards, but have since broken up.