NZ Police close to arrests following Chinese student killing

New Zealand Police said Tuesday they "are close to making arrests" after a Chinese student was killed and floated near an Auckland port in the suitcase case.

At a news briefing held in Auckland, Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand, who is in charge of the case, said three men have been helping the police with their inquiries after a raid on an inner city apartment this morning.

The body of Wan Biao, 19, was found floating in the Waitemata Harbor last Friday, and the Police now hold that it emerged that kidnapping may have been a motive, and a ransom of 800,000 NZ dollars (4 million RMB yuan) was sought from Wan's parents in China.

Hollewand said the Police believe Wan, who came to New Zealand last August for language study, was lured to a hotel in Auckland, where he studied, and was killed within hours.

Forensic tests are being carried out at the hotel.

Hollewand said three men were questioned after a raid in a hotel.

One of the three men is Wan's classmate, and he had called by phone Wan's parents in China demanding a ransom.

Wan's parents then informed Chinese police, said the Police.

Hollewand revealed that the suitcase containing Wan Biao's body was dumped from Princes Wharf, Auckland.

He said the Police are still tracing a group of women who were near the suspected scene on Friday, and two men who were seen taking a boat at the sea where Wan was thrown into sea in the suitcase.

The Police said Wan's parents in China was noticed the death of their son and they were "devastated".

The parents are coming to New Zealand.

The killing of Wan Biao has been headlines amongst New Zealand media these days and many local people and Chinese students feel very sorry about Wan's death.

Chief Executive of Education New Zealand Robert Stevens said

Wan Biao's death was "sad, tragic," while he believed it was an " isolated case."

Mr Stevens told Xinhua Tuesday "the number of incidents involving international students are minimal considering their population in New Zealand."

"And we would like the parents, including the Chinese parents, to be sure that New Zealand is still one of the safest destinations globally for international students, and we have been the global pace-setter in terms of regulatory protections for international students," said Stevens.

Source: Xinhua