Police in Australia have arrested a fourth man in connection with the killing of a Chinese student found in a suitcase in an Auckland harbor, said New Zealand Police Friday.

The Police said the latest arrest was made Thursday night in Sydney, by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who have been working closely with Auckland Police over the past 10 weeks.

The 21-year-old former Waikato University student will appear Friday in the Central Local Court, Liverpool St, Sydney, where he will face charges of kidnapping and murder, said New Zealand Police.

Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand, who has lead the investigation of Wan Biao's death, said his team has been greatly assisted by the AFP, who have put in hundreds of officer hours and resources.

Three alleged co-offenders charged with kidnapping and murder or accessory appeared in the Auckland District Court on Wednesday and were remanded to appear at a depositions hearing at the Court on Sept. 4.

Police say Wan Biao, 19, was killed in an Auckland hotel room in the early hours on April 14.

His body was stuffed into a suitcase and dumped into the Waitemata Harbor, where it was spotted later that day by a fisherman.

The discovery of Wan's body came several hours after his parents in China received a ransom demand for 800,000 NZ dollars (US$48,000). None of the money was paid.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2006)