Scrub Land Search For Missing Woman

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday November 22, 2003

Scrub land search for missing woman

A SEARCH began in thick scrub land yesterday for missing Sydney woman Zoey Zou.

Ms Zou's one-year-old daughter was found unattended in a stroller in the Sydney beach suburb of Manly late on Wednesday night.

The baby's father contacted police on Thursday morning after hearing news bulletins about an abandoned baby.

However, the man said he had not been in contact with the child's 33-year-old mother since Tuesday. Police are treating her disappearance as suspicious.

A police spokesman said 16 police officers searched North Head, predominantly national park just east of Manly, between noon and 4.30pm yesterday.

NRMA says officers' strike plans unfair

ROADSIDE assistance workers' plans to go on strike in NSW and the ACT for 36 hours next week were unfair, motoring giant NRMA complained yesterday.

The breakdown patrol officers voted on Thursday night to walk off the job for a day and a half from midday on Thursday, November 27 - the day before NRMA's annual general meeting - after emergency meetings with management failed to break a deadlock over pay.

NRMA boss Ross Turnbull warned recently that moves by board candidates up for election at the AGM to scrap membership fee increases could send the 80-year-old motoring service group broke.

In light of the group's board turmoil and recent financial difficulties, a company spokesman yesterday branded the union's strike moves as unreasonable and unfair.

``The union's demands are totally out of line with other service industries," the spokesman said.

Home after 8 years in Chinese jail

AN Australian citizen who has spent the past eight years in a Chinese jail on spying charges returned home yesterday.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Wang Jianping arrived in Australia yesterday, after spending the two weeks since his early release from prison battling to return home.

``We are delighted to have been able to assist with his release from prison," Mr Downer said.

``I'm also pleased that Wang Jianping has been able to get his exit documents and come back to Australia and be reunited with his mother, who of course is quite an elderly woman."

Council wants dismissal overturned

THE board of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) would try to have its dismissal overturned in the Land and Environment Court, its legal adviser said yesterday.

Solicitor Andrew Chalk said the sacked board would approach Chief Justice Peter McClellan on Monday to seek an expedited hearing.

``They believe it would probably be a two-day case and they'd say they would be hoping to have it heard before Christmas," Mr Chalk said.

The NSWALC's action will be against NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Andrew Refshauge, who on Thursday removed its 13 elected councillors, saying they failed to deliver strong leadership for indigenous people.

Magistrate asks why bail not opposed

A SYDNEY magistrate yesterday questioned why a prosecutor did not oppose bail for a man charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Amar Slewa, 28, who is suffering the after-effects of gunshot wounds to the legs, yesterday hobbled on crutches into the dock of Fairfield Local Court to face 12 charges.

They relate mainly to demanding property with menaces and intent to steal. Police prosecutor Ashley Metcalfe did not oppose a bail application, instead requesting strict conditions. After questioning why bail was not opposed, Magistrate Anthony Spence was told the accused had suffered serious injuries and may be under some risk in custody.