The lawyer for a Korean man fighting extradition to China on murder charges is seeking his release on bail.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Kyung Yup Kim, who is a permanent New Zealand resident, is wanted in China for the murder of a woman in Shanghai in 2009.
He has been in prison here since 2011.
His lawyer Tony Ellis has also filed for a judicial review of the Justice Minister's decision to allow Mr Kim to be extradited.
Mr Ellis told the High Court in Wellington today there would be no risk of his client fleeing the country if he was released on bail with electronic monitoring conditions.
Mr Ellis said he had no money and his family was here.
Crown prosecutor Austin Powell said Mr Kim was in a desperate situation and, if sent back to China, could be imprisoned for a long time.
However, he said the Chinese authorities had assured the Crown Mr Kim wouldn't face the death penalty.
