'Kidnapped' woman charged with arson, false complaint

A woman who told police she had been kidnapped and set on fire has been charged with arson and making a false complaint.

The 53-year-old woman needed hospital treatment for burns after her black 1998 BMW car was set on fire in the Auckland Domain.

She told police she was checking her car about 11.30pm on July 4 outside her suburban home when a man got into the driver's seat and drove off with her in it.

She said she was driven to the Domain where her kidnapper doused her and the car in petrol and set them alight.

Police said the woman had appeared in Auckland District Court accused of arson and making a false complaint and remanded until October for a pre-depositions hearing.

- NZPA