Newmarket bank scene of alleged extortion

Four Asian men are assisting Auckland City Police investigating an alleged kidnapping and extortion incident that came to a head at about 9.25 this morning at a Newmarket bank.



Two men say they were kidnapped in New Lynn late last night and taken to a city hotel where they were held overnight. They say that this morning they were taken in separate vehicles to two separate banks - a National Bank in Newmarket and an ASB in Otahuhu - and forced to withdraw money.



Each of the men says they were accompanied by two captors. While in the process of withdrawing money, the Newmarket victim handed a note to a bank teller asking for Police to be called.



The Police Air Support unit (Eagle) and a number of road vehicles attended. As a result one man was apprehended in the bank, another was outside the bank in a car. A third person was located on Carlton Gore Rd - on foot - while a fourth was located in a car on Khyber Pass Rd.



ENDS

Issued by Noreen Hegarty

Auckland City Police Communications Manager

Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589

Website: www.police.govt.nz