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Re Jae HYEON - Further arrest made

Tuesday 24 June 2008, 10:27PM

By New Zealand Police

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NELSON

Police engaged on the inquiry into missing Korean backpacker Jae Hyeon KIM have today arrested 2 men and jointly charged them with the murder of Mr Kim at Charleston in late 2003.

Inquiry Head, Detective Inspector John Winter, said that Operation JERICHO had been launched to achieve a break-in to the wall of silence that confronted police. That operation had paid dividends and police were now exploiting the initial success.

A 28 year old Nelson fisherman appeared in the Nelson District Court this afternoon, and has been remanded in custody to appear in the Westport District Court on Thursday 26 June. He will be joined there by a 31year old former Westport man. Other persons are still being sought for interview at present, and additional charges may be laid.

Detective Inspector Winter said that he had confirmed the death of Mr Kim to the Korean Consulate, who had advised the family in Pusan. The date of death was still unclear, but was likely to be between the 29th September and the 22nd October 2003. It was likely that a family member would travel to New Zealand in due course, but not immediately.

Although the body had not been located, police would not rule out that it may yet be recovered. The initiative for that now lay with other people, he said. Further searches would be considered, but none were planned at this stage.

Operation JERICHO involved 10 staff and co-ordinated activity in a number of locations around the country. The team in Westport would remain in place to deal with follow-up enquiries and the court appearances this week.