JESS: Setting slot values using Java api

When the "slotType" is "ANY" my value is "<UNKNOWN>". So the RU.ANY data type cannot be used this way and I have to use one of the others?

...
fact.setSlotValue(name, getJessValue(slotType, value));
...

private Value getJessValue(String type, String value) throws JessException {
		if ("ANY".equals(type) == true)
			return new Value(value, RU.ANY);
		else if ("STRING".equals(type) == true)
			return new Value(value, RU.STRING);
		else if ("INTEGER".equals(type) == true)
			return new Value(Integer.parseInt(value), RU.INTEGER);
		else if ("FLOAT".equals(type) == true)
			return new Value(Float.parseFloat(value), RU.FLOAT);
		else if ("SYMBOL".equals(type) == true)
			return new Value(value, RU.SYMBOL);
		else if ("LONG".equals(type) == true)
			return new Value(Long.parseLong(value), RU.LONG);
		else
			return new Value(value, RU.ANY);
	}