An Auckland man who went on a gambling spree after more than $100,000 was accidentally transferred into his bank account has escaped a jail term.
Mehdi Soheili has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 200 hours of community work when he appeared at the Auckland District Court.
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He had earlier pleaded guilty to spending just over $104,000 at SkyCity Casino after just over $141,000 was mistakenly put into his account on 13 November last year.
It wasn't until a week later that the bank noticed the error and froze his account.
The judge ordered Soheili to pay back the remaining $103,000 he owed the bank, acknowledging that he had already paid back almost $2500.
The man had also been ordered to take part in a gambling programme and undergo counselling.