The 50-year-old Thai woman at the centre of a kidnapping incident has died overnight in Middlemore Hospital.
A post-mortem will be carried out later this morning.
Police would like to thank the public and media for the information provided to the Operation Sisal team. However, we continue to seek any sightings of a late model silver vehicle in the Papatoetoe and surrounding areas on 1 March 2016 at around 7pm.
It is likely we will release the victim’s name this afternoon pending notification of all next-of-kin.
Media are reminded that the family has asked for privacy and do not want to be contacted.
Police are satisfied that the incident is not domestic related. We are keeping an open mind as to the motivation behind her kidnapping however an obvious line of inquiry will involve links to organised crime.
ENDS
Issued by Shelley Nahr / Communications Manager
021 595 562
Media: At this stage we will not be holding a stand up unless there are any significant developments throughout the day.