Disgraced former government prosecutor Warwick Reid has admitted in a New Zealand court to taking a NZ$1 million (HK$5.3 million) payment to pervert the course of justice.
The guilty plea blocks his extradition to Hong Kong to face nine charges and will see him serve a sentence of up to seven years in New Zealand.
The court might also order seizure of Reid's assets when he is sentenced next month.
Reid, 48, made a surprise appearance in Tauranga District Court yesterday after being called from Tauranga Hospital's psychiatric unit.
He pleaded guilty to a fresh charge brought by the New Zealand police of 'wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice'.
The court heard Reid accepted the payment of NZ$1 million shortly after he was deported from the territory in December 1994 in return for signing an affidavit on behalf of jailed businessman Ch'ng Poh.