Kidnapping charges have been filed against nine Japanese students already accused of assault after a fellow student at their Auckland-based performing arts academy was found dead earlier this week, New Zealand police said Friday.

The body of Nozomu Shinozaki, a 22-year-old man from Yokohama, was found by emergency services at the Columbus Academy in West Harbor, West Auckland, early Wednesday. He had suffered head injuries.

Academy director Katsuo Kanamori, also known as Soon Keuk Kim, was charged Thursday with attempting to obstruct justice after allegedly telling his students not to cooperate with police.

The further charge of kidnapping was leveled against all nine students when they appeared Thursday before the Waitakere District Court, Auckland police spokeswoman Rebekah Holt said.