KEY POINTS:
The overjoyed family of kidnapped schoolgirl Xin Xin Ma could not control tears of joy last night as they waited for her to come home.
Xin Xin was found in a house just around from the corner from where she was abducted on Monday, and her aunt Tong Zhou said she was not surprised.
Mother of Max, the 6-year-old cousin who witnessed Xin Xin's abduction, Tong Zhou said she had told police that she was convinced Xin Xin had to be nearby.
"I had suspected all along and told the police that Xin Xin had to be somewhere close by. The kidnapper put her in the boot, and if he had gone far, she would have suffocated."
Elated grandmother Ping Zhou could not control her emotions when speaking to the Herald.
With tears flowing, she said: "For so many days I have cried, now I am still crying, but this is tears of joy.
"How can someone be so cruel to do this to an innocent child?
"Everyday, I have been staring out the window hoping against hope that Xin Xin will come home safely, and I can't believe I will soon be seeing her for real this time. And when I see her, I want to hold her, kiss her and never let her go."
Hugging this reporter, Ping Zhou added: "I don't know how to thank the media, the police and everyone else who has helped find her."
Grandfather Qi Wen Zhou said the past few days had been torture for him.
"I haven't slept, couldn't eat and cried all the time," he said. "Ispent my days gardening to try totake my mind off Xin Xin, but itwas impossible and she keepscoming back to my mind."
The grandfather of five said Xin Xin was his favourite because he had looked after her "since she was in her mother's tummy".
He said: "I still can't believe that she has been found, and I cannot wait to hold her again."
Yesterday, police said a 25-year-old Chinese national had been arrested and charged with assault. Another aunt, Hong Zhou, who had earlier in the week publicly pleaded for Xin Xin's safe return, said: "It is so shameful that the kidnapper is Chinese."
She would not comment on the speculation about the reason for the kidnapping, and felt that the circumstances behind the abduction were not important last night.
"What is important news to us is Xin Xin has been found, she is alive and she will be back with us very soon."
