The 19-year-old Chinese teenager found dead in a suitcase floating in Auckland's Waitemata Harbor was Wan Biao, a student from east China's Zhejiang Province, said New Zealand police yesterday.

 

Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand said his family in Zhejiang were being contacted.

 

The Consulate-General of China in Auckland has made contact with the police asking them to solve the case as quickly as possible. 

 

The police have also been examining Wan's Auckland home and talking to friends who reported him missing. 

 

Hollewand said a distinctive mark on Wan's body assisted in confirming his identity.

 

Police still want to hear from anyone who saw a heavy suitcase being dragged towards a boat or being dropped into the harbor.

 

Wan died from multiple injuries inflicted less than 24 hours before his body was found on Thursday, the police have said. They indicated it was unlikely the crime had been planned.

 

(China Daily April 17, 2006)