Running off to China with her boyfriend Leo Gao and NZ$3.8 million of Westpac’s money does not seem to have turned out to be such a great idea for New Zealander Kara Hurring.
Some 18 months ago, Westpac mistakenly placed NZ$10 million into the account of Leo Gao after he had asked for a $100,000 overdraft to keep his Rotorua service station afloat.
A few days after the banking error, the pair, together with Ms Hurring’s 8-year-old daughter, Leena, fled to China after transferring the money offshore. They managed to send $3.8 million before Westpac realised their mistake and recovered the rest of the money.
According to the New Zealand Herald on Sunday, Ms Hurring had left for Hong Kong a fortnight ago. She and Mr Gao separated not long after arriving in China. It appears that Mr Gao was not supporting her and that Ms Hurring, who apparently had been living in Guangdong Province, had been forced into returning to New Zealand.
The New Zealand Police said that a demand for extradition for both Kara Hurring and Leo Gao had been rejected by China.
“The problem would appear the Chinese don’t recognise what they have done as a crime in their eyes,” Detective Sergeant Mark Loper told the Herald.
Ms Hurring will be criminally liable for failing to return Westpac’s funds.
Some 18 months ago, Westpac mistakenly placed NZ$10 million into the account of Leo Gao after he had asked for a $100,000 overdraft to keep his Rotorua service station afloat.
A few days after the banking error, the pair, together with Ms Hurring’s 8-year-old daughter, Leena, fled to China after transferring the money offshore. They managed to send $3.8 million before Westpac realised their mistake and recovered the rest of the money.
According to the New Zealand Herald on Sunday, Ms Hurring had left for Hong Kong a fortnight ago. She and Mr Gao separated not long after arriving in China. It appears that Mr Gao was not supporting her and that Ms Hurring, who apparently had been living in Guangdong Province, had been forced into returning to New Zealand.
The New Zealand Police said that a demand for extradition for both Kara Hurring and Leo Gao had been rejected by China.
“The problem would appear the Chinese don’t recognise what they have done as a crime in their eyes,” Detective Sergeant Mark Loper told the Herald.
Ms Hurring will be criminally liable for failing to return Westpac’s funds.
