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Wellington - A couple who have fled New Zealand after millions of dollars were accidentally transferred into their bank account are believed to be in Hong Kong, police said on Friday.
The couple left New Zealand after taking $3.8m from a Westpac bank account after being mistakenly given a $10m overdraft instead of $100 000.
News reports have named the couple as Leo Gao and his girlfriend Kara Yang, although neither the police nor the bank has confirmed their identities.
Police said two people they were seeking were believed to have travelled to Hong Kong.
"Enquiries to locate those individuals are continuing through Interpol in Hong Kong and official channels in Beijing," Detective Senior Sergeant Harvey of Rotorua police said.
Gao was the owner of a petrol station, which closed this month and has been put in receivership, in the northern tourist city of Rotorua.
Australian-owned Westpac said on Friday an overdraft of up to $100 000 had been approved for Gao, but somehow a $10m limit was applied accidentally instead.
The customer had attempted to transfer amounts totalling around $6.7m, but the bank said it had been able to recover around $2.8m.
"Westpac is continuing to vigorously pursue the outstanding amount of $3.8m," it added in a statement.
Yang's mother, Suzanne Hurring, told commercial television her daughter's actions were hard to believe, describing her as "beautiful and honest."
"This was the crazy thing, she has never pinched a thing in her life - probably as a little girl, yes - but she is so honest, so honest."
Hurring said she was angry with Gao and would like to "wring his blimmin' neck".
- AFP
