Nine Japanese students and the Japanese director of their Auckland-based performing arts academy arrested following the death of a fellow student have been released from jail and have surrendered their passports to authorities, New Zealand police said Thursday.
The students, aged between 17 and 23, are from Columbus Academy in West Harbor, West Auckland. All were charged with assault after the body of a 22-year-old student was found with head injuries early Wednesday.
Academy director Katsuo Kanamori was arrested Thursday and charged with perverting the course of justice.