New Zealand

Man accused of stealing $6m from bank

05:07 am on 22 December 2011

A man accused of stealing $6.782 million from Westpac Bank has appeared in the Manukau District Court.

Hui Gao, 30, who prefers to be known as Leo, is accused of stealing the money in 2009 after an overdraft of $10 million was mistakenly loaded into his bank account.

It is alleged he transferred the money into other accounts. Police say the man and his then-partner Kara Hurring then left New Zealand.

Mr Gao was arrested in Hong Kong in September this year and arrived back in the country with New Zealand detectives on Wednesday morning.

he is charged with 16 counts of theft and two counts of money laundering.

He appeared relaxed in court wearing a business suit and was remanded in custody to reappear in a Rotorua court on Friday.

Ms Hurring, 32, was arrested when she arrived back in New Zealand earlier this year and will stand trial next year.

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