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Accused schoolboy kidnapper arrives in Qld

A man accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old boy from outside his Gold Coast home has arrived in Queensland after being extradited from NSW.

Zhen Jie Zhang is the back of a police car
Zhen Jie Zhang has been extradited from NSW to Queensland over an alleged child kidnapping. (AAP)

A man accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old boy for ransom in Queensland before taking him across the border has been extradited from NSW.

Zhen Jie Zhang, 53, arrived at the Southport Watchhouse on Monday afternoon, hours after appearing in a northern NSW court for an extradition hearing.

Zhang made a brief appearance in court at Grafton, two days after he was arrested inside a car allegedly alongside the missing boy, following a tip-off from a member of the public.

His arrest followed an interstate manhunt for the boy, who was snatched outside his Gold Coast home on Friday afternoon.

The alleged kidnapper had fallen out with the boy's family over "substantial" personal loans which prompted the extortion attempt, police say.

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The boy was reunited with his family in Grafton, some 200km south of his home, and has since returned to the Gold Coast.

He didn't attend school on Monday, but Somerset College headmaster Craig Bassingthwaite said the boy would be welcomed back when he does return.

"It was a very stressful and disturbing weekend, but what a fantastic outcome," Mr Bassingthwaite told the Nine Network.

Queensland police expect to charge the man with one count of kidnapping for ransom.

Zhang, a Chinese national, is expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police wouldn't comment on media reports they are seeking a second suspect, believed to have been inside the car when the boy was abducted.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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