05-21-2009, 08:29 AM
Police are hunting an Asian couple thought to have fled the country with millions of dollars, after a banking error.
The couple, who ran a Rotorua service station, are understood to have applied to Westpac Bank for a $10,000 overdraft and mistakenly had $10 million paid into their account.
A Westpac spokesman today refused to confirm the amount mistakenly given to the couple, though said the bank was "pursing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen".
He said human error was responsible for the couple's substantial windfall, not a systems error, and that the bank was reviewing its procedures.
The couple, who ran a Rotorua service station, are understood to have applied to Westpac Bank for a $10,000 overdraft and mistakenly had $10 million paid into their account.
A Westpac spokesman today refused to confirm the amount mistakenly given to the couple, though said the bank was "pursing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen".
He said human error was responsible for the couple's substantial windfall, not a systems error, and that the bank was reviewing its procedures.