Victim helps break extortion ring

By PATRICK GOWER

An Asian student who had already lost $64,000 to a kidnapping ring yesterday helped police to foil a further extortion attempt at an Auckland city bar.

The 19-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped in a West Auckland street two weeks ago, beaten by up to 15 members of the ring and held for two days while they forced him to make bank withdrawals.

He escaped and approached police, who accompanied him yesterday morning to meet the group's ringleader, who had contacted the victim and made threats about what "may or may not happen" if he did not come up with more money.

Detective Sergeant Stan Brown said a dozen police joined in a "very quiet meeting" at the Palace bar, across the road from Sky City Casino.

Mr Brown praised the victim, first for coming forward and then for helping them catch the alleged kidnapper.

He said the victim met the man at an Auckland education institute, which police refuse to name.

He was invited to meet the group for dinner at a New Lynn restaurant, where they took him off the street upon arrival.

After failed attempts to get money from an ATM, the victim eventually went into banks and made two withdrawals of $44,000 and $20,000.

Mr Brown said police had not recovered the cash.



Police were still investigating the ring.

Mr Brown believed it had a leader, a "second tier" and other followers.

The student, who spoke limited English, had "feared for his life" and needed medical treatment for injuries received during the kidnapping, he said.

He had escaped from the West Auckland house where he was held despite two men guarding him.

He waited two days to approach police, which Mr Brown put down to a fear of his attackers and cultural distrust of police.

The victim was still in New Zealand but "taking things day by day".

This month, an Auckland District Court judge jokingly asked whether it was "the Chinese kidnapping season" when an Asian student - the third in a week - appeared before him charged with the offence.

The same week, a routine check by Auckland police foiled a kidnapping when they noticed an "unhappy" young Asian man in the back of a car.

Mr Brown said police took complaints from the Asian community about kidnappings seriously.

"We just want them to know that if we get a complaint, action will be taken. We are pleased with today's result. Hopefully this sends a message to people contemplating this kind of crime."

* Two men will appear in the Waitakere District Court on Saturday charged with kidnapping and demanding with menaces.

The victims

* Kidnappings are a big problem in the Asian student community.
*Many students are young, live alone and have access to large amounts of cash.
* Victims are reluctant to talk to the police
* Police believe many extortion-type crimes are not reported.