Ringleader of kidnap gang jailed for 13 years

Wanzhe Gui

The ringleader in an Asian kidnap gang which threatened to kill its hostage if $1 million in ransom was not paid has been jailed for 13 years.

Wanzhe Gui, 31, a Chinese overstayer with criminal convictions in New Zealand, was one of four Asian men who broke into the Howick house of Kelly Zhao on March 7, last year.

When they could not find much money, they kidnapped her and demanded ransom but released her after 20 hours when they heard police had been alerted.

The other three, Changsong Li, 33, Xiang Quan Chen, 28, and Zu Ping Zhou, 19, admitted their guilt and were jailed for 10 years last year.

The court heard today the gang was after money but when they found there was not much money or a safe in the house, they kidnapped Mrs Zhao.

They kept her for 20 hours with her feet, hands, eyes and mouth bound, and without food and water, Judge Anna Johns told Manukau District Court during a sentencing hearing today.

They demanded $1 million in ransom from Mrs Zhao's elderly parents, saying $500,000 had to be paid that day and $500,000 by noon the next day.

One of the three who broke into the house as the fourth stayed in the car outside, had a pistol and one had a knife.

"They (the parents) were told in no uncertain terms if they didn't pay, they would be picking up their daughter's body.

"They were also told if they called police they would be killed," the judge said in court.

She said when the gang members found the police had been called, Mrs Zhao was dumped and managed to call her parents, who called police.

The judge said the impact of Gui's offending on the Zhao family was "immeasurable".

The kidnap victim has insomnia and nightmares and the stress had brought about a relapse in a medical condition.

"She is in an awful position of being afraid to go out and afraid to stay at home."

Her thinking was out of order, sometimes her speech didn't make sense and her brain felt blank, the judge said.

Her emotional fluctuations were extreme and Gui's not guilty plea meant she had to retell her story in court.

She described that as a "major torment, both physically and mentally".

The judge said the victim's elderly parents were badly traumatised.

"They continue to suffer trauma as a result of you and your co-offenders' actions."

They had completely changed their lifestyle.

"Sadly they do not feel safe in New Zealand."

They had gone back to China and did not feel able to come back to New Zealand.

Gui's 13-year sentence was a year less than the maximum sentence for both charges.

The judge told Gui 13 years was a starting point.

Judge Johns said there were no mitigating features, he showed no remorse, had previous convictions and 13 years was, therefore, an appropriate sentence.

She said he would be deported when he ended his sentence and there was no point in imposing a minimum non-parole term.

Outside the court, the officer in charge of the police inquiry, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, said it showed potential kidnappers and criminals they would get caught.

It also showed the Chinese community could go to the police for help and the criminals could go to prison for a very long time.

It also showed "once you're finished you are on the first plane home.

"They (the family) are all completely traumatised by this and I suggest they will never recover but this goes some way to helping them on their recovery," Mr Grimstone said.

- NZPA