Victim identifies kidnapping suspect

Police want to hear from anyone who recognises this man.

Police investigating the kidnapping of a controversial property developer want to contact a man who posed as a land-buyer.

The man was photographed by surveillance cameras on November 16, the day Kim Spencer is alleged to have been detained and assaulted.

Detective Mark Palma said Mr Spencer had confirmed the man in the photographs was the person he showed around a coastal Pakiri property, north of Auckland, owned by Mr Spencer and business partners.

Mr Spencer had arranged to meet the man at the Woolshed Cafe in Leigh before they went to the Pakiri property.

Mr Spencer has complained that he was detained and assaulted by a group of men wearing balaclavas who were waiting in a shed on the property. Mr Spencer suffered moderate injuries.

He has told police the man was driving a late-model, two-door black Mercedes Kompressor.

Mr Palma, of Orewa CIB, said he wanted to hear from anyone who could identify the man.

Forcibly detaining a person against his or her will could constitute kidnapping, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Mr Spencer was prominent in dairy farming but was ruled bankrupt in 1997. He became a property developer after being discharged from his bankruptcy.