Runaway Westpac millionaire may not be extradited

Email
Print

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 9:26p.m.

Leo Gao's partner, Kara Hurring, was arrested when she returned to NZ earlier this year

Leo Gao's partner, Kara Hurring, was arrested when she returned to NZ earlier this year

By Angela Beswick

Police say the Westpac accidental millionaire will be given the opportunity to return to New Zealand voluntarily before extradition is sought.

The 30-year-old Chinese New Zealander, believed to be Rotorua businessman Leo Gao, was arrested in Hong Kong in relation to the theft of more than $6 million from Westpac bank in April 2009.

Police launched an operation, which spanned two-and-a-half years, after a $10 million overdraft facility was mistakenly loaded into Gao’s business account. It is alleged he then transferred $6,728,000 of the money into other accounts before fleeing the country.

Gao left the country on April 29, 2009 and his partner Kara Hurring followed with the couple’s daughter on May 3.

The error was discovered two days later and approximately half of the money recovered. An outstanding sum of $3, 872,000 remains unrecovered.

Gao was stopped by border patrol in Hong Kong as he was entering the country from China at Lok Ma Chau. He was arrested by members of Interpol on a warrant relating to New Zealand theft and money laundering charges.

He was due to appear in a Hong Kong court this afternoon.

Earlier this year Hurring was arrested on related charges when she re-entered New Zealand. She will stand trial in February next year.

It is not yet known whether Gao will be extradited as he will be given the opportunity to return to New Zealand voluntarily.

3 News

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

05 Oct 2011 07:52p.m.

Fenix wrote:

Agree with Dan. If u was in the same situation, you would probably seek legal action if you find out that you 'accidentally' gave a fair amount of money to someone bank account...

04 Oct 2011 09:45p.m.

Dan wrote:

Speed .. if someone leaves 10 million dollars in the street, does that mean it's yours for the taking? No. Same if they put it in your bank account by mistake. It does not make it yours. Not that the bank would miss it, ultimately their insurance will pay, which really means all of us with insurance will pay. And all of us that use banks (of course). The house never loses. But you can't have people stealing money willy-nilly and getting away with it. The system that has been carefully constructed for centuries, to keep the rich rich, would fall down and we'd have anarchy. On the other side... it's pretty stupid showing your face anywhere like civilisation (Hong Kong for example, who would probably extradite if asked) after stealing that sort of money from a bank, IMO. If you're gonna run from something like that, you got to lay low for at least the statute of limitations (8 years isn't it?) or own up PDQ and give the money back, hope for leniency.

01 Oct 2011 07:46p.m.

RolanTheRat wrote:

Return on his own.My god are the NZ police that stupid.i guess they know they have no chance of getting him back.

30 Sep 2011 10:49p.m.

Speed wrote:

Who made the mistake in the first place?,the bank did, now the women has returned & facing it,good on her, but she is not the real person at fault. The bank is.