Picture released in kidnapping case

Xiang Quan Chen

Police have released a picture of a Chinese man they are seeking in connection to the kidnapping of Howick woman Qing Zhao.

Qing Zhao, also known as Kelly Zhao, was taken at gunpoint after three Asian men speaking Mandarin broke into the Bleakhouse Rd address at 2.15am on Monday and demanded valuables and cash.

The men demanded a $1 million ransom, but later dumped her unconscious, bound, gagged and blindfolded in bushes in an industrial area of Onehunga without receiving any money. She managed to free herself, about 20 hours after she was kidnapped, and ring police.


Police said she was not physically harmed but had been mentally traumatised by the ordeal.

The man police are seeking is called Xiang Quan Chen, he is 28-years-old, 165cms tall and of medium build.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said he put the photo in the public forum to get help to locate the man.

"I believe that people within the Chinese community and in particular the criminal element of this community know where he is."

Mr Grimstone said anyone with information should contact police on 0800 KIDNAP. There will be Asian speaking police officers manning the phone line.

"It can be seen from this particular crime that the people involved are desperate and dangerous individuals. They should not be approached."

Police are still looking at the possibility that the well-planned home invasion was carried out by members of an organised crime gang.

They have not yet identified a woman who used Qing Zhao's money card at an ATM machine on Tuesday morning.

The Asian woman, with distinctive red streaks through her hair, tried to withdraw money from a machine in the Westfield Shopping Town at Pakuranga.

- Herald staff