Jakarta –
A New Zealand husband and wife suddenly become billionaires and live a life of revelry after the bank incorrect transfer on their accounts for NZD 10 million or more than IDR 87.4 billion. Their life story was later made into a movie called ‘Runaway Millionaire’.
Their story began when Hui “Leo” Gao (her husband) applied for a NZD 100,000 loan from Westpac bank to help its struggling gas station business in Rotorua, New Zealand in 2009. The loan was approved by Westpac, but a bank employee made a mistake by adding a few zeros, Gao became an instant millionaire.
Gao and his wife Kara Hurring knew the money didn’t belong to them, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying all the money. Even then they decided to flee to China.
Launched by the website Stuff.co.nz, Gao had previously wired $6,782,000 of bank money into his personal account before he and Hurring fled to China. Gao departed first on April 29, 2009, presumably followed by Hurring on May 3.
However, until Gao and Hurring fled to China, the bank still didn’t realize that there was a mistake transferring money to Gao’s account. The bank only realized that there was a transfer error in Gao’s account on May 5, 2009.
After the bank realizes there has been a mistake, the bank tries to recover it. As Gao and Hurring fled, the bank asked New Zealand authorities to arrest the couple.
With the help of Interpol, an international manhunt has finally been launched. Gao was eventually caught by Interpol as he was crossing the crossing from China to Hong Kong in September 2011, two and a half years after Rotorua police began their investigation.
Gao’s arrest came after an Interpol “red alert” appeared when he tried to cross the border from mainland China into Hong Kong. At the time the Interpol warrant stated that Gao was wanted by the District Court in Rotorua, New Zealand on charges of theft and money laundering.
Therefore, Gao was immediately arrested by the Hong Kong migration authorities at that time. Then, in late September, Gao confronted a referring judge at the Sai Wan Eastern Magistrates’ Court and was denied bail.
He was returned to custody to appear in court again on October 28. He subsequently arrived in New Zealand in the custody of two detectives in December 2011. Gao was released on bail until his August 24 ruling in the Rotorua District Court.
Meanwhile, partner Hurring spent 22 months in China before being arrested in February after returning to Auckland to obtain his daughter Leena’s passport.
He was found guilty last month by a Rotorua District Court jury on 30 counts of theft, attempting to use a credit card dishonestly and international money laundering.
(fdl/fdl)
