Auckland cabbie Hiren Mohini’s murder suspect likely to be tried in China

Wellington, Jun 19 (ANI): The New Zealand Police has said that the Chinese suspect in the murder of Indian-origin taxi driver Hiren Mohini in Auckland could face trial in China.

The man, named in Auckland District Court files as Zhen Xiao, was located and detained by Chinese authorities in Shanghai.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones spoke from Shanghai about Zhen Xiao, the 23-year-old Chinese citizen who fled New Zealand in early February.

Jones said Zhen, a Chinese citizen, was located following inquiries, which were aided by a police liaison officer based in Beijing, the NZ Herald reports.

Local authorities had also conducted their own investigations, and Zhen had given them his full cooperation, he said.

It is not yet clear whether witnesses or prosecutors from New Zealand would be required to attend a trial in China, the paper said.

“Their justice system works in a different way to ours. The next steps are for Chinese authorities to determine,” Jones said.

He said he expected the close cooperation between New Zealand and Chinese officials to continue.

“I’ve always felt assured in getting a result for Hiren’s family,” he said.

Mohini was stabbed after taking a fare from downtown Auckland to Mt Eden.

Zhen was identified from SkyCity security-camera images taken on the night of the killing, but fled the country before he could be detained. Police issued a warrant for his arrest on February 26. (ANI)