‘Accidental millionaire’ makes court appearance

A NEW ZEALAND petrol station owner suspected of withdrawing millions of dollars and going on the run after a bank error has appeared in court after being extradited from Hong Kong.

Hui “Leo” Gao appeared in Manukau District Court charged with two counts of money laundering and 16 counts of theft involving €5.8m from Westpac Bank.

Gao and his then-partner, Kara Hurring, disappeared in 2009, two days after they received a credit line worth NZ$10m (€5.8m) — 100 times their approved limit.