Woman who died after kidnapping was on drug charges

Jindarat Prutsiriporn served time in prison for drug offences. Photo / Supplied

Criminal history of car-boot victim revealed as police investigate potential link to gangs

The bound and gagged woman who died after she was injured jumping out of a car boot was on bail and due to appear in court on drug charges next month.

Jindarat Prutsiriporn's death is being investigated as a homicide, with police saying she may have had links to the organised crime scene.

The Herald can reveal the 50-year-old was scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court on April 1 after pleading not guilty to what are understood to be methamphetamine-related charges.

Her lawyer, Maria Pecotic, said she was unable to comment on the case because of client-solicitor privilege.

Ms Prutsiriporn was also locked up for 2 years in 2011 after admitting conspiring to import methamphetamine precursor pseudoephedrine as well as other drug offences.

The charges stemmed from a search of a Hawkes Bay property in November 2009, which uncovered more than 70g of methamphetamine and quantities of cannabis.

As a result of the find, Hastings beneficiary George Wakely, who was 54 at the time, was sentenced to five years nine months in prison on multiple charges of importing pseudoephedrine and others of possessing methamphetamine and cannabis for supply. His Thai-born wife Juthamat Wakely, then 45, was sentenced to eight months' home detention on related charges.

Detective Inspector Dave Lynch said a team of 17 were continuing to assess information from the public regarding Ms Prutsiriporn's death.

Counties Manukau Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Dave Lynch speaks to media at the scene. Photo / Jason Oxenham

And police were still appealing for sightings of a late-model silver vehicle in Papatoetoe and surrounding areas on Tuesday night.

"We want to assure the public we are doing everything we can to locate the person or persons involved in this crime," he said.

Middlemore Hospital yesterday said Ms Prutsiriporn died from her injuries just after 11pm on Wednesday.

Mr Lynch said a post-mortem examination had revealed how she died.

"That was able to tell us she did have significant head injuries and that at least one of those injuries was likely to have been inflicted prior to her exiting the vehicle."

Police cordon at the corner of Huia Rd and East Tamaki Rd in Papatoetoe, Photo / Jason Oxenham

Police are piecing together why she was in the boot, who put her there and what happened before she was found bleeding and unresponsive with critical injuries on Huia Rd, Papatoetoe, on Tuesday night.

It appears the woman used a metal rod to open the boot. With her hands and feet tied and strips of fabric and a man's tie wound tightly around her neck, she managed to escape.

Criminologist Greg Newbold said the tight-lipped nature of Asian gangs in New Zealand would make the police job difficult.

Professor Newbold, of Canterbury University, said Asian gangs were hard to break into.

"They have a great sense of honour and duty to one another and they usually keep their mouths shut," he said.

This was because the gangs were related.

He said while police might be following leads in the case, if a gang was involved, someone would need to come forward.

Police marking the scene around where the woman was found. Photo / Dean Purcell

Asian organised crime groups had been in New Zealand since the 1990s and were well-established, especially in Auckland.

They were mainly involved in importing pseudoephedrine, counterfeiting, paua smuggling and extortion, Professor Newbold said.

Anyone with information to assist the Operation Sisal team is asked to call 0508 422 443.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

- Additional reporting: Solbin Kang