Kidnap leader turns against co-accused

The leader of an alleged kidnapping and extortion ring targeting Asian students has admitted his role and is giving evidence against his co-accused.

Yiyu Zhang, 23, yesterday pleaded guilty to 42 charges, including kidnapping and demanding with menaces.

In what Judge Neil MacLean told the jury was an "unusual situation", Zhang is now the star Crown witness giving evidence in Hamilton District Court against the men he says helped him "terrify" students into giving them thousands of dollars and handing over their cars.

Chen Chung Yen, 19, Guangyi Ma, 21, and Jeremy Dean Toimata, 19, have denied charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and demanding with menaces.

Yesterday, Zhang told the court he had been friends with the three men "up until now". He said that on March 24 last year, Ma arrived in Hamilton and said he had been beaten up by Zhu Zhang (no relation) in Auckland.

Zhu Zhang has given evidence that he was threatened by Ma, Zhang and Toimata in the Boundary Court Motel in Hamilton.

Yiyu Zhang said Ma asked him to help get revenge for an alleged beating in Auckland and get money out of his attacker.

Zhang said the man was called to the motel and came with two others. The lights were turned off.

Toimata and others there were employed to "terrify" the students, "because we wanted to extort some money from them", Zhang said.

He said he left the motel and went to the men's flat in Cambridge Rd, where he stole a laptop and their wallets.

When he got back, he took Zhu Zhang to a money machine, where he drew out $800. He said he paid Toimata for "helping" him.

- NZPA