A woman has been arrested in South Korea as part of the homicide investigation into the deaths of two children whoses bodies were found in suitcases in Auckland.
The remains were found in suitcases bought at an auction for an unclaimed locker, with Det Insp Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua confirming last month the bodies were those of primary school-aged children and believed to have been there for several years.
Vaaelua said in a statement on Thursday a 42-year-old woman has now been arrested in South Korea.
According to local news station YTN, she was arrested in the city of Ulsan at about 1am (local time). South Korean website Chosun.com said she was "hiding in an apartment".
The woman was accused of committing "crimes against humanity", Edaily reported citing local police. The arrest was made after a "persistent pursuit" of her, the South Korean outlet said.
Vaaelua said an application has been made to have her extradited back to New Zealand to face two charges of murder.
In the statement, Vaaelua acknowledged South Korean agencies for their assistance with the case.
"To have someone in custody overseas within such a short period of time has all been down to the assistance of the Korean authorities and the coordination by our NZ Police Interpol staff," Vaaelua said.
"Police would also like to acknowledge the overwhelming support from the public since the commencement of a very challenging investigation."
'Unspeakably shocking'
Last month, the human remains were discovered at an address on Moncrieff Ave in the south Auckland suburb of Manurewa.
Newshub later revealed the remains were unknowingly taken by a family to their Manurewa home who'd bid and won an auction for abandoned goods in a storage unit.
After initial investigations, police confirmed the remains were those of children aged between five and 10 and had been dead for some time.
No details were provided about how the children died but police said the family who found the bodies were not connected to the deaths.
Reports later emerged a woman believed to be a family member of the two children was in South Korea.
"South Korean authorities arrested the woman today on a Korean arrest warrant pursuant to two charges of murder relating to the two young victims," Vaaeula said on Thursday.
"The arrest warrant was issued by the Korean Courts as a result of a request by NZ Police for an arrest warrant under the extradition treaty between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea (South Korea)."
No further comment could be made as the matter was now before the courts, he said.
"These homicides are unspeakably shocking and have brought a great sense of concern as to circumstances surrounding the entire case," said Daniel Newman, a councillor for Auckland's Manurewa-Papakura Ward.
"The discovery of the bodies in the suitcases at Moncrieff Ave brought an unhelpful sense of intrigue as well as an expectation that the subsequent investigation would lead to arrests.
"I am hopeful that the deceased children's stories will be told, that those responsible are held to account and that the wider community receives the necessary closure in this case," Newman said.
