Abduction police hunt web writer

Police investigating the kidnapping of Auckland woman Qing Zhao are following up information received after publicity about an alleged confession by one of the kidnappers on a Chinese language website.

Ms Zhao was kidnapped from her Howick home on March 7 and held for 20 hours by men demanding $1 million ransom.

A person claiming to have been involved in the kidnapping alleges they wanted to make quick money after suffering heavy gambling losses at the casino.

The author of a posting on Skykiwi.co.nz (see link below) said the alleged kidnap plot was hatched in a hotel room at the casino and masterminded by a person named Gin Shan, or Golden Mountain.

Police say the letter contains "a certain amount of truth" and believe the author may be one of two men still being sought in connection with the kidnapping inquiry.

A police spokeswoman yesterday said Changson Li, 33, and Wanzhe Gui, 29, had not been found.

Police will not say what measures they are taking to track the author of the website letter.

A spokesman for Skykiwi.co.nz said the posting was generating "phenomenal" interest and was still on the website.

In the letter, the alleged kidnapper apologised to Ms Zhao and says the men did not intend to hurt her.

"I'm sure you would believe what I try to say to you because otherwise we had every opportunity to hurt you and wouldn't be that nice to you."

Ms Zhao was dumped in Onehunga after allegedly being held captive in a house in Pt England for 20 hours.

"Hereby, I'd like to show to you and your family my sincere and deeply felt sorrow and remorse."

The author said he was not trying to gain sympathy - "please believe my sincerity" - and asked that someone pass the posting on to police.

The author finished by telling people to abandon gambling if they were addicted, "not follow what we have already done because you would be very regretful".

Shame brought on Chinese

After yesterday's report people posted comments on the Skykiwi website (see link below). Here's a selection of them:

* Why wouldn't you turn yourself in since you have confessed? Everyone should take responsibility for whatever they do. If you are here for study then do the hard yards; if you are here for work then do your best at work; if you are here for gambling and losing money then don't do nasty things to the community.  As a minority group here in NZ we've already been under-privileged, why would you not do something good to revert the negative perceptions of the locals toward Asians? We're ashamed.

* As a Chinese I sincerely empathise what you've gone through. Please don't do anything as stupid as this any more. You know where it has taken you and what impact you have made on the life of the average.

* The harm has been done, now it's the time for us to make it up?  Upon hearing of this horrible crime, I believe you deserve every single punishment. But let's think it all through. Everyone has at least once in their lifetime exposed to wrongdoings, so why wouldn't we, as outsiders, give the alleged suggestions helping him become a nice man again?  Would the court give all the alleged one more chance?

* Your confession was of no use to us. You wouldn't have committed this crime should you have realised the consequences. The path in front of you is crystal clear. Turn yourself.