By Angela Beswick
The man dubbed Westpac’s ‘runaway millionaire’ has been jailed.
Hui 'Leo' Gao, who had $10 million mistakenly deposited into his bank account, was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison when he appeared in the Rotorua District Court this morning.
His ex-girlfriend Kara Hurring was found guilty by a jury trial of 25 theft charges, three of using a bank card for pecuniary advantage and two of laundering money.
She was sentenced to nine months home detention and ordered to pay reparations of $75 a week - to cover the $11,800 that she spent.
Gao, 31, had earlier admitted seven theft charges.
Gao applied for a $100,000 overdraft to revamp his ailing Rotorua service station in April 2009 but $10m was mistakenly credited to his account instead.
He transferred $6.7m to accounts in China, declaring he was “f***ing rich”, and the pair fled for that country soon after.
Westpac was able to recover $2.9m but more than $3m has not been accounted for.
After more than two years on the run, Gao was arrested trying to enter Hong Kong from China in September last year and extradited to New Zealand two months later.
Hurring, who was arrested on her return to New Zealand last year after 22 months on the run, was in May found guilty of all 30 charges relating to the overdraft error.
Timeline: The runaway millionaires
April 2009: Gao applies for a $100,000 overdraft with Westpac to revamp his
petrol station but $10m is accidentally deposited into his account.
April-May 2009: Gao transfers $6.7m to overseas accounts, the pair tell
friends they're going on holiday and they both head to China.
May 2009: Westpac learns of its error and freezes Gao's account.
February 2011: Hurring is arrested on arrival into New Zealand after
returning home voluntarily.
September 2011: Following an international manhunt lasting more than two
years, Gao is arrested trying to enter Hong Kong from China.
December 2011: Gao is extradited to New Zealand under police guard.
May 2012: Hurring is found guilty by a jury of 30 charges relating to the
overdraft error, including theft, using a bank card for pecuniary advantage and
money laundering.
June 2012: Gao pleads guilty to seven theft charges in Auckland District
Court. He had originally been charged with 16 counts of theft and two of money
laundering.
August 24, 2012: Gao is jailed for four years and seven months, and Hurring
is sentenced to nine months' home detention and ordered to pay $11,830
reparation.
3 News/NZN