Zhang’s case was first listed last June in Waitākere District Court, but by then it was believed he had left for China, which does not have an extradition agreement with New Zealand.
The defendant, who was listed in court documents last year as a builder by profession and a Singapore resident, was later taken into custody while visiting that country. Unlike China, Singapore does have an extradition treaty with New Zealand.
The charges against him include three counts each of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and indecent assault, as well as one count each of aggravated burglary, threatening to kill, strangulation, abduction for the purpose of sexual connection, assault with a weapon and sexual violation by rape.
If convicted of the most serious charges, he could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.
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