Kiwi businessman freed

A kiwi businessman slung into a maximum security prison in the Philippines, after a raid on his VIP security training facility, has been released.

Anthony Joseph Newman, being held on a visa charge at a detention centre in Camp Bagong Diwa, was released by immigration authorities, the Philippine Star reported.

Newman and his Filipino girlfriend were taken into custody after he was detained with six former soldiers being trained at his shooting range on April 23.

Mariano Villafuerte, director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime taskforce, alleged the seven were part of a plan to overthrow the Arroyo Government.

But the Philippine Star reported Villafuerte's key informant was an Australian dismissed two months earlier by Newman and his partner in a security training company.

The newspaper said the alleged assassins were retired navy commandos being trained as VIP bodyguards for Afghanistan, and were filling out application forms when the raid took place.

Lawyer Emmanuel Pena said Newman had a tourist visa valid until May 4.

- NZPA