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New Zealand 'accidental millionaire' jailed | New Zealand 'accidental millionaire' jailed |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A New Zealand man who fled to China after millions of dollars were accidentally put in his bank account has been jailed for four years and seven months. | A New Zealand man who fled to China after millions of dollars were accidentally put in his bank account has been jailed for four years and seven months. |
Hui "Leo" Gao left for China in 2009 after Westpac Bank mistakenly gave him a NZ$10m ($7.5m; £4.65m) overdraft. | Hui "Leo" Gao left for China in 2009 after Westpac Bank mistakenly gave him a NZ$10m ($7.5m; £4.65m) overdraft. |
His former girlfriend, Kara Hurring, received nine months' home detention. | His former girlfriend, Kara Hurring, received nine months' home detention. |
The pair, dubbed the "accidental millionaires", were sentenced at a court in Rotorua. | The pair, dubbed the "accidental millionaires", were sentenced at a court in Rotorua. |
The trial ended a saga that has grabbed international attention. | The trial ended a saga that has grabbed international attention. |
They were caught last year after being on the run for more than two years. | They were caught last year after being on the run for more than two years. |
Gao, 31, pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft totalling NZ$6.7m in June. He was arrested and extradited from Hong Kong in December. | Gao, 31, pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft totalling NZ$6.7m in June. He was arrested and extradited from Hong Kong in December. |
He said in court that he would not be able to pay back the money, New Zealand media reported. | He said in court that he would not be able to pay back the money, New Zealand media reported. |
Hurring, 33, was found guilty of money laundering, attempted fraud and theft in May. | Hurring, 33, was found guilty of money laundering, attempted fraud and theft in May. |
She was arrested after returning to New Zealand in February 2011 and convicted in a Rotorua court after a four-day trial. | She was arrested after returning to New Zealand in February 2011 and convicted in a Rotorua court after a four-day trial. |
She pleaded not guilty, saying Gao had told her he won the lottery. She was also ordered to pay reparations of about NZ$11,800 to the bank. | She pleaded not guilty, saying Gao had told her he won the lottery. She was also ordered to pay reparations of about NZ$11,800 to the bank. |
Westpac did not comment on the sentencing. Reports said the bank has recovered NZ$2.9m but is still seeking NZ$3.79m. | |
On the run | On the run |
In 2009, Gao had asked the bank for a NZ$100,000 overdraft to help support his struggling garage. | In 2009, Gao had asked the bank for a NZ$100,000 overdraft to help support his struggling garage. |
The bank found out about the error days after transferring the millions into Gao's business account. | The bank found out about the error days after transferring the millions into Gao's business account. |
But by then, police said, the couple had transferred more than half of the money into other accounts and then fled to Hong Kong. | But by then, police said, the couple had transferred more than half of the money into other accounts and then fled to Hong Kong. |
They allegedly went on a gambling spree in Macau and southern China last year. | They allegedly went on a gambling spree in Macau and southern China last year. |
The couple are reported to have separated soon after they arrived in China. Hurring returned to New Zealand after having a baby. | The couple are reported to have separated soon after they arrived in China. Hurring returned to New Zealand after having a baby. |
They have been on bail at different addresses before the sentencing, reports said, and their young son is believed to be with family in China. Hurring has a daughter from another relationship. | They have been on bail at different addresses before the sentencing, reports said, and their young son is believed to be with family in China. Hurring has a daughter from another relationship. |
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